Title of Invention	DEVICE FOR CHANGING BRIDGES, SIDE ARMS AND BROWBARS OF RIMLESS SPECTACLES, AND FOR CHANGING BRIDGES AND SIDE ARMS OF METALLIC AND PLASTIC SPECTACLE FRAMES
Abstract	In exchangeable spectacle frames, in which the side arms and bridge are fastened to the lenses or central part of the spectacle frame by a support element, the support element is a rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part with a metallic threaded pin and an additional metallic positioning pin or threaded pin. The metallic or plastic end of the side arm on the side of the lens, or the connecting element between the support element and metallic or plastic side arm, is shaped with recesses which are adapted to the form of the support element, have the same length as the metallic part and engage the metallic part. The recesses in the side arm form at least two catches on the lateral, inner plastic interfaces which interact with the threaded pin and positioning pin. Alternatively, the side arms or bridges are made of an elastic material with a slit-shaped recess, in which recesses are located for form-fittingly receiving the pins of the support element and locking them after their insertion.

Title of Invention

DEVICE FOR CHANGING BRIDGES, SIDE ARMS AND BROWBARS OF RIMLESS SPECTACLES, AND FOR CHANGING BRIDGES AND SIDE ARMS OF METALLIC AND PLASTIC SPECTACLE FRAMES

Abstract

In exchangeable spectacle frames, in which the side arms and bridge are fastened to the lenses or central part of the spectacle frame by a support element, the support element is a rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part with a metallic threaded pin and an additional metallic positioning pin or threaded pin. The metallic or plastic end of the side arm on the side of the lens, or the connecting element between the support element and metallic or plastic side arm, is shaped with recesses which are adapted to the form of the support element, have the same length as the metallic part and engage the metallic part. The recesses in the side arm form at least two catches on the lateral, inner plastic interfaces which interact with the threaded pin and positioning pin. Alternatively, the side arms or bridges are made of an elastic material with a slit-shaped recess, in which recesses are located for form-fittingly receiving the pins of the support element and locking them after their insertion.

Full Text	DEVICE FOR CHANGING BRIDGES, SIDE ARMS AND BROWBARS OF RIMLESS SPECTACLES, AND FOR CHANGING BRIDGES AND SIDE ARMS OF METALLIC AND PLASTIC SPECTACLE FRAMES Background of the Invention The invention relates to a device as claimed in the preamble of claim 1 and a process as claimed in the preamble of claim 8. Eyeglass wearers are increasingly demanding glasses which are made to be changeable and in which lenses matched to individual requirements can be varied and combined with various eyeglass frames. In this respect reference is made to numerous proposals in the literature in which frames of rimless eyeglasses are connected to the lenses by screw connections such that connecting elements, holding members or the like are clamped or screwed on the eyeglass lenses so that the eyeglass wearer or optician can relatively easily replace one frame by another. This repeated replacement however leads to the difficulty that valuable lenses in conjunction with rimless eyeglasses can be easily damaged so that handling the lens when the frame is being changed is not accepted by the market. US 2004/0169815 A1 discloses a system for attachment of side arms to rimless eyeglasses in which the side arms are made interchangeable, so that the eyeglasses wearer can keep his lenses when he intends to change the appearance of his eyeglasses. Only the side arms, but not the bridge, are replaced in this connection. For this changing process there is an L-shaped screw arrangement with two opposing ends provided with threads. The fastening system consists of a screw which is to be connected to the side arm and a screw to be connected to the lens. The former is made for example roughly to the plane of the lens, the latter roughly vertically to the plane of the lens. A nut is placed on the screw which penetrates the lens, while the screw connection to the side arm is made as a pin which engages a recess on the 1 edge of the lens, so that twisting is prevented. The fastening device can also be made in two parts in one alternative embodiment, in this version the shaft which penetrates the lens having one cylindrical end for holding the shaft and the screw attachment which is screwed to the earpiece is joined to the cylindrical part. This system constitutes solely a screw connection system with two different screw elements, which is designed for changing the side arms. The subject matter of US 2003/0058402 A1 is a fastening system for connecting eyeglass lenses to the side pieces and bridges of the eyeglass frame to prevent the connecting elements from becoming loose, falling out and being lost. For this purpose plug elements with plastic sleeves are used, the plug elements instead of screw threads forming catch-like elements which are locked in the plastic sleeves. These plug elements are routed through holes in the eyeglass lens and the assigned hole of the side piece of the eyeglass frame through the lens, therefore vertically to the plane of the lens and the corresponding interlocks in the axis of rotation of the side piece which holds the side arm are inserted so that thus conventional screw connections are undertaken by snap fastener-like plug connections in two planes of the eyeglasses which are perpendicular to one another in order to achieve replacement. This plug connection can generally be brought together and released only with a tool or considerable expenditure of force, in doing so there being the danger that the eyeglass lens and/or the earpiece will be damaged. US 6,210,002 B1 describes attachment of side pieces with lenses. The side piece on its eyeglass-side end has two shafts, one of which is arranged through a hole in the lens and the other is located outside the eyeglass lens. The two shafts are connected by their free end in an attachment block. The two shafts have catch elements which are elastically flexible and are connected to catch in sleeves of the attachment block so that instead of a screw connection an unthreaded clamp connection is formed. This connection takes place vertically to the plane of the lens and is closed or opened in the manner of a snap fastener. 2 It is an object of the invention to make interchangeable eyeglasses with rimless lenses such that the connection between the lens, the carrier element and the connector to the side piece part has high stability, the carrier element connected to the lens is completely overlapped by the connector part, locking or catching between the carrier element and connector part yields exact coupling which is free of play, and mounting when the frames are being changed is especially simple and gentle to the parts. Furthermore the object of the invention is to propose interchangeable eyeglasses with a metal or plastic frame, in which the carrier element is connected to the frame over its entire length and is completely overlapped from the connector part to the side piece part, locking or catching between the carrier element and connector part yielding exact coupling which is free of play, and mounting when the frames are being changed can be done especially easily by the wearer of the eyeglasses without tools as often as wished. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, for rimless eyeglasses the carrier element is made as an essentially rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part, for example with a T- shaped cross section, with a threaded pin of metal and an additional positioning pin or selectively a second metal threaded pin with the pertinent hole in the eyeglass lens, the lens has a through hole which is spaced apart from the lens edge for holding the threaded pin and a recess on the lens edge for holding the positioning pin, the lens-side end of the plastic side piece or of the connector part on the side piece between the carrier element and the plastic side arm has a recess matched to the shape of the metal part with the length of the metal part and encompassing the latter, and the recess of the side piece has at least two catch sites on the inside plastic boundaries which are made to interact with the threaded pin and the positioning pin. According to another aspect of the invention, for interchangeable eyeglasses with a plastic or metal frame the carrier element as a rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part, in a 3 T-shape is attached to the earpiece-side ends of the middle part of the eyeglasses, the glass side end of the plastic side arm or of the connecting piece between the carrier element and the side arm is provided with a recess matched to the shape of the carrier element part with the length of the carrier element and encompassing the latter, and the recess of the side piece part is provided with at least two catch sites on the inside plastic boundaries which are made to interact with the pins of the carrier element. With the proposal, for rimless eyeglasses as a result of screwing the metal carrier element into the lens, stable holding is ensured, with which at any time and as often as wished release of the carrier element from the lens is possible, the carrier element as a metal part enabling extremely high strength with at the same time a small projection over the surface of the eyeglass lens, securing by means of a screw connection yields high-quality fixing of the carrier element on the lens, when the frame is changed the entire carrier part is overlapped, and thus with respect to quality and design a major improvement over conventional devices is achieved. Analogously to the version for rimless spectacles, in another configuration of the invention for metal or plastic framed eyeglasses, by using a metal carrier element a simple and advantageous changing device is achieved, by means of which the respective side piece part is comfortably pulled out of the carrier element under the action of manual force and an interchangeable side piece or interchangeable earpiece can be slipped on, when pulling-out and slipping-on the resistance of the double or also multiple catch site having to be overcome, but especially stable holding being achieved by this double or multiple catch site. In another configuration of the invention, for changing the side piece parts there are carrier elements on the metal hinges for holding and attaching the side piece parts which are permanently connected to the stationary and the mobile part of the hinge and which have connecting devices which are made to be inserted or slipped on with the carrier element so that by simply pulling off the side piece and the earpiece of the side piece part and by 4 slipping or sliding on a new side piece or a new earpiece the frame can be changed without any tool. In this connection the side piece has a corresponding connector part on the connection to the middle part of the eyeglass frame, which can be slipped or pushed onto the carrier element which is attached to the middle part. Another special embodiment of the invention calls for the side piece or the section of the side piece facing the eyeglass lens to consist of elastic material, for example spring steel or special plastic so that the slotted execution of the insert opening of the side piece end widens in the manner of a prong when the plug-in connection is being established between the screw shaft and the catch receiver and accommodates the two screw shafts in succession by catching and returns again into the initial position. This results in an unambiguously defined and exact engagement position. In terms of material the connection can be metal/metal, metal/ plastic or plastic/plastic, when a plastic material is used which on the one hand has extremely high strength and on the other high resetting force. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained below in conjunction with the drawings showing a preferred embodiment. Figure 1 shows the carrier element in a side view, Figure 2 shows the carrier element in a view from the right as shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the carrier element in a bottom view, Figure 4 shows the connector part (side piece) in a bottom view, Figure 5 shows the connector part (side piece) in a side view, and Figure 5a in a section l-l, Figure 6 shows a schematic of an eyeglass lens section with a device as claimed in the invention (on a reduced scale, while Figures 1-5 are shown on a 10 : 1 scale), Figure 7 shows a schematic of a lens section with the device as claimed in the invention, viewed from the opposite side, Figure 8 shows a modified embodiment of the invention with a metal middle part, 5 Figure 9 shows another modified embodiment of the invention with a plastic middle part, Figure 10 shows a partial view of the side piece part with an earpiece which can be pushed or slipped on, or a side piece which can be slipped on, as well as adjoining metal sections on the hinge, Figure 11 shows a modified version as shown in Figure 10 without any metal parts on the side piece and the earpiece, Figure 12 shows a metal side piece of spring material, Figure 13 shows the side piece as shown in Figure 12 joined with the carrier earpiece on the eyeglass lens, and Figure 14 shows an overall view of interchangeable eyeglasses with the plug-in device as claimed in the invention in an exploded view. Detailed Description of the Invention Figures 1 - 3 show in three different views which are each offset 90° to one another the carrier element 1 which is attached on the visible side of the eyeglass lens or the eyeglass frame. The carrier element 1 is a carrier-shaped metal component with a cross section in the shape of an oblong beam 3 and a shaft 4 of the same extension as the beam 3. Proceeding from the shaft 4, there are a screw pin 5 and a positioning pin 6 located at a distance to it or another threaded pin 6 with the carrier element 1 on the bottom of the beam 3, the shaft of the screw pin 5 as well as of the positioning pin 6 having a greater diameter than the cross section of the shaft 4. The threaded pin 5 is routed through a hole 5' (Figure 6) in the eyeglass lens 7 and is subsequently shortened as required depending on the lens thickness and is fixed on the threaded pin by means of a nut. The positioning pin 6 is inserted into a partial hole 6' which is open on the edge of the lens so that the location of the carrier element 1 on the lens is definitively defined. Alternatively another threaded pin 6 can likewise be arranged to penetrate the eyeglass lens. The length of the carrier element 1 is determined by the distance of the two pins 5, 6 from one another, the hole of the threaded pin having to have a sufficient safety distance from the lens edge so that damage to the lens 6 by drilling and stress is precluded. The connector part 8 as shown in Figure 4, for example the side piece, constitutes the part of the changing device which establishes the connection from the carrier element 1 to the side arm of the eyeglass frame. This connector part 8 is for example a plastic part which is slipped laterally onto the carrier element 1 and is integrated into one part of the eyeglass frame, especially the side piece. Since based on the changing device as claimed in the invention the eyeglass wearer is enabled to select instead of a certain frame a completely different frame, differently with respect to shape, design and color, it is necessary that for optimum appearance the connection part 8 can be pushed over the metal carrier element 1 to such an extent that the end of the metal carrier element ends flush with the end of the connector part. Figures 4 and 5 show in two different views offset by 90° the carrier element 1 by the broken line with the two pins indicated in Figure 5, the threaded pin 5 and the positioning pin 6 (or selectively another threaded pin in the eyeglass lens) and the beam 3 of the carrier element 1, while Figure 4 in a bottom view fully extended shows the recess which constitutes the guide for slipping-on with the two bilateral bulges 10 and 11 for holding the shaft of the threaded pin 5 and of the positioning pin 6. The connector part 8 consists preferably of plastic, likewise the boundary walls of the recess 9 which are slightly deformed when the connector part is pushed or slipped onto the carrier element 1 on the straight wall parts 9, while the pins 5 and 6 engage the bulges 10, 11 and thus assume a defined position when the pushing pressure is released. In Figure 5 the articulated site is labeled 12; the side piece and earpiece of the eyeglass frame are articulated to one another. Figures 6 and 7 each show a schematic of the connection of the carrier element 1 to the eyeglass lens 7, in Figure 6 in a view of the inside of the lens, and in Figure 7 in the opposite position. Broken lines show the connector part 8 which has been slipped or pushed on. The lens 7 has a hole 5' for holding a threaded pin 5 and an open edge hole 6' for holding a positioning pin 6. Figure 8 shows eyeglasses with a metal frame, the entire middle part 13 of which including 7 the bridge 14 consists of metal. On the outer sides 15, 16 of the middle part 13 carrier elements 17, 18 of metal in the form of holding plates are molded which are used as receiver carriers for the connector parts 8 to the side piece parts, which connector parts are shown in the preceding figures. In this embodiment the carrier elements 17, 18 are not connected to the eyeglass lens 7, but to the middle part 13 of the frame itself so that engagement with the lens is unnecessary when the side piece parts are to be changed. The bridge 14 and nose pads 20, 21 are permanently connected to the metal frame middle part 13. Another embodiment for eyeglass frames of plastic with a middle part 22 is shown by Figure 9. The middle part in this connection has extensions 25, 26 with carrier elements 27, 28 on the side outer boundaries 23, 24. A connector part 29 in the form of a side piece can be slipped or plugged onto the carrier element and is made analogously to the ones shown in the preceding figures, and holds a side arm 32 via a pivot joint 30 so that in this version the side arm 32 can be changed without intervention in the lenses. The bridge 31 in this embodiment can consist of plastic or metal and is an integrated component of the metal part 22, the middle part in the bridge region being shaped such that the frame parts which run down from the bridge 31 and which face away from the eyeglass lens are matched to the support surfaces of the nose or are made as pads. Alternately the side arms 32 can also be made such that they can be slipped directly onto the carrier elements without a connector part or side piece being provided. With the embodiment as shown in Figures 10 and 11 a side arm 32 is shown which is connected via a connector part (side piece) 29 to the middle piece (not shown) of the eyeglass frame. The earpiece 32 and the connector part or side piece 29 are connected to one another via a common hinge or pivot joint 30, with its one hinge part 33 connected to the earpiece 32 and its other hinge part 34 connected to the side piece 29. Between the earpiece 32 and the connector part 29 metal sections 35 are inserted which are likewise attached to the hinge 30. On the inside of the hinge parts 33, 34 there is one carrier element 1 at a time, as is shown in Figures 1 - 3, while both the earpiece 32 and also the side piece 8 29 each have a connector part 8 which is slipped onto the respective carrier element 1 for the changing process. The connector part 8 is slipped onto the carrier element 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow 36 and 37. This proceeds in the manner shown in Figure 4 and described in conjunction with Figure 4. Figure 11 shows a version which has been modified relative to Figure 10 to the extent that the two metal parts 35 which are connected to the hinge parts 33, 34 are omitted. Figure 12 shows a metal side piece 36 of spring material with a slotted recess 37 which is made on the lens-side end, a conical insertion opening 38, two slotted conical sections 39, 40 which are each terminated by a widening recess 41, 42 and an end recess 43. The recesses 41, 42 are used to hold the threaded pins 5, 6 of the carrier element 1, and act as locking sites when the side piece is plugged onto the carrier element when parts of the eyeglass frame are to be changed. As shown in Figure 13, in this embodiment the carrier element 1 which consists of the beam 45 with threaded pins 47 and 48 attached or molded on the bottom 46 is located on the eyeglass lens 44 such that between the bottom 46 of the beam 45 and the surface of the eyeglass lens 44 facing this bottom there is a free space for inserting the metal side piece 36, the outside of the beam 45 being matched in design to the visible side of the side piece and side arm and the opening end of the side piece with the two tines being pushed over the shafts 47 and 48 and the shafts each locking into one of the recesses 41, 42, 43 as far as the stop and thus yielding secure fixing of the side piece on the carrier element. Figure 14 shows interchangeable eyeglasses in an exploded view in which each eyeglass lens 5 on the left and the right side is assigned a carrier element 1, which for holding the connector part 8 is assigned for example to a side piece with a following side arm and a bridge in the nose region so that the eyeglass frame is changed by plugging the connector part 8 to the carrier element 1, or the bridge to the carrier element 1 in a positive form- 9 locking manner and as far as the stop. The process of plugging proceeds in the direction of the arrow, specifically in the direction parallel to the plane of the lenses both when slipping the side piece from the outside to the inside onto the assigned carrier element 1 and when slipping the bridge from the inside to the outside onto the assigned carrier element 1. 10 Claims 1. Device for interchangeable eyeglasses for changing of at least individual parts of a frame for rimless eyeglasses or full-framed eyeglasses, with carrier elements fixed on the edge of the lenses or on the edge of the frame for holding the side pieces and bridge in a supportive manner, characterized in that the carrier element (1) is an essentially rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped component which is attached to the lens or frame by means of a metal threaded pin (5) and an additional positioning pin (6) or a second threaded pin (6') and can be positively connected by insertion to the interchangeable side pieces (29) and/or interchangeable bridge (14, 32). 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier element (1) is positively connected to the interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge (14, 32) in the direction parallel to the plane of the lens (7) and in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the bridge by slipping or sliding on. 3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the lens-side end of the interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge has recesses (10, 11) which are matched to the shape and size of the carrier element (1) with the length of the carrier element and positively engaging the latter. 4. Device as claimed in one of claims 1 -3, wherein the recesses (10, 11) of the interchangeable side piece (29) form catch elements on the inside boundaries which are made to flexibly interact with the threaded pin (5) and the positioning pin (6) or the second threaded pin (6'). 5. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-4, wherein the carrier element (1) is a rod- shaped, rail-shaped or surface-shaped plastic part with a threaded pin (5) of metal and an additional positioning pin (6) or selectively a second metal threaded pin, the lens-side end of the metal interchangeable side piece (29) has recesses (10, 11) which are matched to the length of the carrier element (1) and are positively engaging the latter, and the recesses (10, 11) of the interchangeable side piece (29) form catch sites on the inside metal boundaries which are made to interact with the threaded pin (5) and the positioning pin (6). 11 6. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-5, wherein the shaft (4) of the carrier element (1) is narrower than the diameter of the two pins (5, 6) and wherein the side piece at the height of the two pins has recesses (10, 11) in the form of bulges for holding the two pins (5, 6) by catching. 7. Device as claimed in one of claims 1 -5, wherein the carrier element (1) on the top of a T-beam (3) has a vertical dimension which is small compared to the diameter of the side piece part (8). 8. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-7, wherein the carrier element (1) consists of metal and the interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge (14, 32) consists of plastic. 9. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-7, wherein the carrier element (1) consists of metal and the interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge (14, 32) likewise consists of metal, and wherein the lens-side end of the interchangeable side piece and/or interchangeable bridge is positively pushed or plugged in between the carrier element (1) and the lens (7), the carrier element (1) on its visible side being matched in color and/or design to the interchangeable side piece consisting preferably of spring material and/or to the interchangeable bridge. 10. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-9, wherein the side pieces (36) and side arms are made of spring material with a slotted recess (37) which is made on the lens-side end and recesses (41, 43) located therein, which are made for positive holding of the threaded pins (5, 6) of the carrier elements (1) and as locking sites when the side part (36) is slipped onto the carrier element (1). 11. Process for changing eyeglass frames for rimless eyeglasses or full-framed eyeglasses, in which the side piece part ends and/or bridge ends are each attached to the eyeglass middle part by a carrier element which is interchangeably connected to the interchangeable frame, and the mounting of the side piece part and/or the bridge is held by the carrier element, characterized in that a) in the lens (7) and in the middle part (13, 22) of the frame on the bridge side and/or side piece side, holes (5') are drilled for holding threaded pins (5, 6) of the carrier 12 element (1), b) the carrier element (1; 18, 27) is fixed with two threaded pins (5,6) of metal on the eyeglass frame (19, 22) or on the lens (7) and is tightened by nuts, and c) the connector part (8; 19, 29) is slipped onto the carrier element (1) which is roughly T-shaped in cross section until the recess (10, 11) within the connector part catches with the shaft (4) of the threaded pin (5) and the shaft of the positioning pin (6) or of the further threaded pin (6'). 12. Process for changing eyeglass frames as claimed in claim 11 for rimless eyeglasses, wherein a) on the side outer boundaries of the lens (7) for connection to the side piece parts (8) or connector parts (8; 19, 29) one essentially rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal carrier element (1) with a roughly T-shaped cross section and with threaded pins (5, 6') or threaded pin (5) and positioning pin (6) is attached, b) the connector part (8) or the side arm (32) of plastic has a recess (10, 11) which is matched to the shape of the carrier element (1) with the length of the carrier element and surrounding the latter, and c) the connector part (8; 19, 29) of plastic is pushed onto the carrier element (1) until the recesses (10, 11) within the connector part engage the shaft (4) of the threaded pins (5, 6) by catching. 13. Process for changing eyeglass frames as claimed in claim 11, with a metal or plastic middle part, wherein a) on the side outer boundaries (15, 16; 23, 24) of the middle part (13, 22) one extension (17, 18; 25; 26) at a time is formed on the frame of the middle part, b) on the extension according to a) a rod-shaped or plate-shaped carrier element (1; 17, 18) of metal is attached to threaded pins (5, 6), c) the connector part or the side arm (19) is provided with a recess (9) matched to the shape of the carrier element with the length of the carrier element (1) and surrounding the latter, and d) the connector part (8) is pushed onto the carrier element (1) until the recesses (10, 11) 13 within the connector part engage the shaft (4) of the threaded pins by catching. 14. Process for changing side pieces and earpieces on eyeglass frames as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connector part (29) adjoining the middle part is attached to the stationary part of the metal hinge (30) and the earpiece (32) is attached to the pivotable part of the metal hinge (30), and the connector part and the earpiece has a recess (9) matched to the shape of the carrier element with the length of the carrier element and surrounding the latter. 15. Process for changing side pieces and earpieces on eyeglass frames as claimed in claim 11, wherein a) the side piece (36) is made as a metal earpiece of spring material with a slotted recess (37) and at least two successive catch sites (41, 42, 43) for positive holding of the two threaded pins (5, 6), b) the lens-side side piece part (36) is inserted or pushed in between the lens top (44) and the bottom (46) of the T-beam (45) of the carrier element (1), and c) the shafts (47, 48) of the threaded pins (5, 6) are inserted or pushed in positively and under pressure to such an extent that the shafts (47, 48) become locked in the catch sites (41, 42, 43) . 14 In exchangeable spectacle frames, in which the side arms and bridge are fastened to the lenses or central part of the spectacle frame by a support element, the support element is a rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part with a metallic threaded pin and an additional metallic positioning pin or threaded pin. The metallic or plastic end of the side arm on the side of the lens, or the connecting element between the support element and metallic or plastic side arm, is shaped with recesses which are adapted to the form of the support element, have the same length as the metallic part and engage the metallic part. The recesses in the side arm form at least two catches on the lateral, inner plastic interfaces which interact with the threaded pin and positioning pin. Alternatively, the side arms or bridges are made of an elastic material with a slit-shaped recess, in which recesses are located for form-fittingly receiving the pins of the support element and locking them after their insertion.

Full Text

DEVICE FOR CHANGING BRIDGES, SIDE ARMS AND BROWBARS OF RIMLESS
SPECTACLES, AND FOR CHANGING BRIDGES AND SIDE ARMS OF METALLIC AND
PLASTIC SPECTACLE FRAMES
Background of the Invention
The invention relates to a device as claimed in the preamble of claim 1 and a process as
claimed in the preamble of claim 8.
Eyeglass wearers are increasingly demanding glasses which are made to be changeable and
in which lenses matched to individual requirements can be varied and combined with
various eyeglass frames. In this respect reference is made to numerous proposals in the
literature in which frames of rimless eyeglasses are connected to the lenses by screw
connections such that connecting elements, holding members or the like are clamped or
screwed on the eyeglass lenses so that the eyeglass wearer or optician can relatively easily
replace one frame by another. This repeated replacement however leads to the difficulty that
valuable lenses in conjunction with rimless eyeglasses can be easily damaged so that
handling the lens when the frame is being changed is not accepted by the market.
US 2004/0169815 A1 discloses a system for attachment of side arms to rimless eyeglasses in
which the side arms are made interchangeable, so that the eyeglasses wearer can keep his
lenses when he intends to change the appearance of his eyeglasses. Only the side arms, but
not the bridge, are replaced in this connection. For this changing process there is an L-shaped
screw arrangement with two opposing ends provided with threads. The fastening system
consists of a screw which is to be connected to the side arm and a screw to be connected to
the lens. The former is made for example roughly to the plane of the lens, the latter roughly
vertically to the plane of the lens. A nut is placed on the screw which penetrates the lens,
while the screw connection to the side arm is made as a pin which engages a recess on the
1

edge of the lens, so that twisting is prevented. The fastening device can also be made in two
parts in one alternative embodiment, in this version the shaft which penetrates the lens
having one cylindrical end for holding the shaft and the screw attachment which is screwed
to the earpiece is joined to the cylindrical part. This system constitutes solely a screw
connection system with two different screw elements, which is designed for changing the
side arms.
The subject matter of US 2003/0058402 A1 is a fastening system for connecting eyeglass
lenses to the side pieces and bridges of the eyeglass frame to prevent the connecting
elements from becoming loose, falling out and being lost. For this purpose plug elements
with plastic sleeves are used, the plug elements instead of screw threads forming catch-like
elements which are locked in the plastic sleeves. These plug elements are routed through
holes in the eyeglass lens and the assigned hole of the side piece of the eyeglass frame
through the lens, therefore vertically to the plane of the lens and the corresponding interlocks
in the axis of rotation of the side piece which holds the side arm are inserted so that thus
conventional screw connections are undertaken by snap fastener-like plug connections in
two planes of the eyeglasses which are perpendicular to one another in order to achieve
replacement. This plug connection can generally be brought together and released only with
a tool or considerable expenditure of force, in doing so there being the danger that the
eyeglass lens and/or the earpiece will be damaged.
US 6,210,002 B1 describes attachment of side pieces with lenses. The side piece on its
eyeglass-side end has two shafts, one of which is arranged through a hole in the lens and the
other is located outside the eyeglass lens. The two shafts are connected by their free end in
an attachment block. The two shafts have catch elements which are elastically flexible and
are connected to catch in sleeves of the attachment block so that instead of a screw
connection an unthreaded clamp connection is formed. This connection takes place
vertically to the plane of the lens and is closed or opened in the manner of a snap fastener.
2

It is an object of the invention to make interchangeable eyeglasses with rimless lenses such
that the connection between the lens, the carrier element and the connector to the side piece
part has high stability, the carrier element connected to the lens is completely overlapped by
the connector part, locking or catching between the carrier element and connector part yields
exact coupling which is free of play, and mounting when the frames are being changed is
especially simple and gentle to the parts. Furthermore the object of the invention is to
propose interchangeable eyeglasses with a metal or plastic frame, in which the carrier
element is connected to the frame over its entire length and is completely overlapped from
the connector part to the side piece part, locking or catching between the carrier element and
connector part yielding exact coupling which is free of play, and mounting when the frames
are being changed can be done especially easily by the wearer of the eyeglasses without
tools as often as wished.
Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the invention, for rimless eyeglasses the carrier element is made
as an essentially rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part, for example with a T-
shaped cross section, with a threaded pin of metal and an additional positioning pin or
selectively a second metal threaded pin with the pertinent hole in the eyeglass lens, the lens
has a through hole which is spaced apart from the lens edge for holding the threaded pin and
a recess on the lens edge for holding the positioning pin, the lens-side end of the plastic side
piece or of the connector part on the side piece between the carrier element and the plastic
side arm has a recess matched to the shape of the metal part with the length of the metal part
and encompassing the latter, and the recess of the side piece has at least two catch sites on
the inside plastic boundaries which are made to interact with the threaded pin and the
positioning pin.
According to another aspect of the invention, for interchangeable eyeglasses with a plastic or
metal frame the carrier element as a rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part, in a
3

T-shape is attached to the earpiece-side ends of the middle part of the eyeglasses, the glass
side end of the plastic side arm or of the connecting piece between the carrier element and
the side arm is provided with a recess matched to the shape of the carrier element part with
the length of the carrier element and encompassing the latter, and the recess of the side piece
part is provided with at least two catch sites on the inside plastic boundaries which are made
to interact with the pins of the carrier element.
With the proposal, for rimless eyeglasses as a result of screwing the metal carrier element
into the lens, stable holding is ensured, with which at any time and as often as wished
release of the carrier element from the lens is possible, the carrier element as a metal part
enabling extremely high strength with at the same time a small projection over the surface of
the eyeglass lens, securing by means of a screw connection yields high-quality fixing of the
carrier element on the lens, when the frame is changed the entire carrier part is overlapped,
and thus with respect to quality and design a major improvement over conventional devices
is achieved.
Analogously to the version for rimless spectacles, in another configuration of the invention
for metal or plastic framed eyeglasses, by using a metal carrier element a simple and
advantageous changing device is achieved, by means of which the respective side piece part
is comfortably pulled out of the carrier element under the action of manual force and an
interchangeable side piece or interchangeable earpiece can be slipped on, when pulling-out
and slipping-on the resistance of the double or also multiple catch site having to be
overcome, but especially stable holding being achieved by this double or multiple catch site.
In another configuration of the invention, for changing the side piece parts there are carrier
elements on the metal hinges for holding and attaching the side piece parts which are
permanently connected to the stationary and the mobile part of the hinge and which have
connecting devices which are made to be inserted or slipped on with the carrier element so
that by simply pulling off the side piece and the earpiece of the side piece part and by
4

slipping or sliding on a new side piece or a new earpiece the frame can be changed without
any tool. In this connection the side piece has a corresponding connector part on the
connection to the middle part of the eyeglass frame, which can be slipped or pushed onto
the carrier element which is attached to the middle part.
Another special embodiment of the invention calls for the side piece or the section of the
side piece facing the eyeglass lens to consist of elastic material, for example spring steel or
special plastic so that the slotted execution of the insert opening of the side piece end widens
in the manner of a prong when the plug-in connection is being established between the
screw shaft and the catch receiver and accommodates the two screw shafts in succession by
catching and returns again into the initial position. This results in an unambiguously defined
and exact engagement position. In terms of material the connection can be metal/metal,
metal/ plastic or plastic/plastic, when a plastic material is used which on the one hand has
extremely high strength and on the other high resetting force.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention is explained below in conjunction with the drawings showing a preferred
embodiment.
Figure 1 shows the carrier element in a side view,
Figure 2 shows the carrier element in a view from the right as shown in Figure 1,
Figure 3 shows the carrier element in a bottom view,
Figure 4 shows the connector part (side piece) in a bottom view,
Figure 5 shows the connector part (side piece) in a side view, and Figure 5a in a section l-l,
Figure 6 shows a schematic of an eyeglass lens section with a device as claimed in the
invention (on a reduced scale, while Figures 1-5 are shown on a 10 : 1 scale),
Figure 7 shows a schematic of a lens section with the device as claimed in the invention,
viewed from the opposite side,
Figure 8 shows a modified embodiment of the invention with a metal middle part,
5

Figure 9 shows another modified embodiment of the invention with a plastic middle part,
Figure 10 shows a partial view of the side piece part with an earpiece which can be pushed
or slipped on, or a side piece which can be slipped on, as well as adjoining metal
sections on the hinge,
Figure 11 shows a modified version as shown in Figure 10 without any metal parts on the
side piece and the earpiece,
Figure 12 shows a metal side piece of spring material,
Figure 13 shows the side piece as shown in Figure 12 joined with the carrier earpiece on the
eyeglass lens, and
Figure 14 shows an overall view of interchangeable eyeglasses with the plug-in device as
claimed in the invention in an exploded view.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Figures 1 - 3 show in three different views which are each offset 90° to one another the
carrier element 1 which is attached on the visible side of the eyeglass lens or the eyeglass
frame. The carrier element 1 is a carrier-shaped metal component with a cross section in the
shape of an oblong beam 3 and a shaft 4 of the same extension as the beam 3. Proceeding
from the shaft 4, there are a screw pin 5 and a positioning pin 6 located at a distance to it or
another threaded pin 6 with the carrier element 1 on the bottom of the beam 3, the shaft of
the screw pin 5 as well as of the positioning pin 6 having a greater diameter than the cross
section of the shaft 4. The threaded pin 5 is routed through a hole 5' (Figure 6) in the
eyeglass lens 7 and is subsequently shortened as required depending on the lens thickness
and is fixed on the threaded pin by means of a nut. The positioning pin 6 is inserted into a
partial hole 6' which is open on the edge of the lens so that the location of the carrier
element 1 on the lens is definitively defined. Alternatively another threaded pin 6 can
likewise be arranged to penetrate the eyeglass lens. The length of the carrier element 1 is
determined by the distance of the two pins 5, 6 from one another, the hole of the threaded
pin having to have a sufficient safety distance from the lens edge so that damage to the lens
6

by drilling and stress is precluded.
The connector part 8 as shown in Figure 4, for example the side piece, constitutes the part of
the changing device which establishes the connection from the carrier element 1 to the side
arm of the eyeglass frame. This connector part 8 is for example a plastic part which is slipped
laterally onto the carrier element 1 and is integrated into one part of the eyeglass frame,
especially the side piece. Since based on the changing device as claimed in the invention the
eyeglass wearer is enabled to select instead of a certain frame a completely different frame,
differently with respect to shape, design and color, it is necessary that for optimum
appearance the connection part 8 can be pushed over the metal carrier element 1 to such an
extent that the end of the metal carrier element ends flush with the end of the connector part.
Figures 4 and 5 show in two different views offset by 90° the carrier element 1 by the broken
line with the two pins indicated in Figure 5, the threaded pin 5 and the positioning pin 6 (or
selectively another threaded pin in the eyeglass lens) and the beam 3 of the carrier element
1, while Figure 4 in a bottom view fully extended shows the recess which constitutes the
guide for slipping-on with the two bilateral bulges 10 and 11 for holding the shaft of the
threaded pin 5 and of the positioning pin 6. The connector part 8 consists preferably of
plastic, likewise the boundary walls of the recess 9 which are slightly deformed when the
connector part is pushed or slipped onto the carrier element 1 on the straight wall parts 9,
while the pins 5 and 6 engage the bulges 10, 11 and thus assume a defined position when
the pushing pressure is released. In Figure 5 the articulated site is labeled 12; the side piece
and earpiece of the eyeglass frame are articulated to one another.
Figures 6 and 7 each show a schematic of the connection of the carrier element 1 to the
eyeglass lens 7, in Figure 6 in a view of the inside of the lens, and in Figure 7 in the opposite
position. Broken lines show the connector part 8 which has been slipped or pushed on. The
lens 7 has a hole 5' for holding a threaded pin 5 and an open edge hole 6' for holding a
positioning pin 6.
Figure 8 shows eyeglasses with a metal frame, the entire middle part 13 of which including
7

the bridge 14 consists of metal. On the outer sides 15, 16 of the middle part 13 carrier
elements 17, 18 of metal in the form of holding plates are molded which are used as receiver
carriers for the connector parts 8 to the side piece parts, which connector parts are shown in
the preceding figures. In this embodiment the carrier elements 17, 18 are not connected to
the eyeglass lens 7, but to the middle part 13 of the frame itself so that engagement with the
lens is unnecessary when the side piece parts are to be changed. The bridge 14 and nose
pads 20, 21 are permanently connected to the metal frame middle part 13.
Another embodiment for eyeglass frames of plastic with a middle part 22 is shown by Figure
9. The middle part in this connection has extensions 25, 26 with carrier elements 27, 28 on
the side outer boundaries 23, 24. A connector part 29 in the form of a side piece can be
slipped or plugged onto the carrier element and is made analogously to the ones shown in
the preceding figures, and holds a side arm 32 via a pivot joint 30 so that in this version the
side arm 32 can be changed without intervention in the lenses. The bridge 31 in this
embodiment can consist of plastic or metal and is an integrated component of the metal part
22, the middle part in the bridge region being shaped such that the frame parts which run
down from the bridge 31 and which face away from the eyeglass lens are matched to the
support surfaces of the nose or are made as pads. Alternately the side arms 32 can also be
made such that they can be slipped directly onto the carrier elements without a connector
part or side piece being provided.
With the embodiment as shown in Figures 10 and 11 a side arm 32 is shown which is
connected via a connector part (side piece) 29 to the middle piece (not shown) of the
eyeglass frame. The earpiece 32 and the connector part or side piece 29 are connected to
one another via a common hinge or pivot joint 30, with its one hinge part 33 connected to
the earpiece 32 and its other hinge part 34 connected to the side piece 29. Between the
earpiece 32 and the connector part 29 metal sections 35 are inserted which are likewise
attached to the hinge 30. On the inside of the hinge parts 33, 34 there is one carrier element
1 at a time, as is shown in Figures 1 - 3, while both the earpiece 32 and also the side piece
8

29 each have a connector part 8 which is slipped onto the respective carrier element 1 for
the changing process. The connector part 8 is slipped onto the carrier element 1 in the
direction indicated by the arrow 36 and 37. This proceeds in the manner shown in Figure 4
and described in conjunction with Figure 4.
Figure 11 shows a version which has been modified relative to Figure 10 to the extent that
the two metal parts 35 which are connected to the hinge parts 33, 34 are omitted.
Figure 12 shows a metal side piece 36 of spring material with a slotted recess 37 which is
made on the lens-side end, a conical insertion opening 38, two slotted conical sections 39,
40 which are each terminated by a widening recess 41, 42 and an end recess 43. The
recesses 41, 42 are used to hold the threaded pins 5, 6 of the carrier element 1, and act as
locking sites when the side piece is plugged onto the carrier element when parts of the
eyeglass frame are to be changed.
As shown in Figure 13, in this embodiment the carrier element 1 which consists of the beam
45 with threaded pins 47 and 48 attached or molded on the bottom 46 is located on the
eyeglass lens 44 such that between the bottom 46 of the beam 45 and the surface of the
eyeglass lens 44 facing this bottom there is a free space for inserting the metal side piece 36,
the outside of the beam 45 being matched in design to the visible side of the side piece and
side arm and the opening end of the side piece with the two tines being pushed over the
shafts 47 and 48 and the shafts each locking into one of the recesses 41, 42, 43 as far as the
stop and thus yielding secure fixing of the side piece on the carrier element.
Figure 14 shows interchangeable eyeglasses in an exploded view in which each eyeglass
lens 5 on the left and the right side is assigned a carrier element 1, which for holding the
connector part 8 is assigned for example to a side piece with a following side arm and a
bridge in the nose region so that the eyeglass frame is changed by plugging the connector
part 8 to the carrier element 1, or the bridge to the carrier element 1 in a positive form-
9

locking manner and as far as the stop. The process of plugging proceeds in the direction of
the arrow, specifically in the direction parallel to the plane of the lenses both when slipping
the side piece from the outside to the inside onto the assigned carrier element 1 and when
slipping the bridge from the inside to the outside onto the assigned carrier element 1.
10

Claims
1. Device for interchangeable eyeglasses for changing of at least individual parts of a
frame for rimless eyeglasses or full-framed eyeglasses, with carrier elements fixed on the edge
of the lenses or on the edge of the frame for holding the side pieces and bridge in a
supportive manner, characterized in that the carrier element (1) is an essentially rod-shaped,
rail-shaped or plate-shaped component which is attached to the lens or frame by means of a
metal threaded pin (5) and an additional positioning pin (6) or a second threaded pin (6') and
can be positively connected by insertion to the interchangeable side pieces (29) and/or
interchangeable bridge (14, 32).
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier element (1) is positively
connected to the interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge (14, 32) in
the direction parallel to the plane of the lens (7) and in the direction of the lengthwise axis of
the bridge by slipping or sliding on.
3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the lens-side end of the
interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge has recesses (10, 11) which
are matched to the shape and size of the carrier element (1) with the length of the carrier
element and positively engaging the latter.
4. Device as claimed in one of claims 1 -3, wherein the recesses (10, 11) of the
interchangeable side piece (29) form catch elements on the inside boundaries which are
made to flexibly interact with the threaded pin (5) and the positioning pin (6) or the second
threaded pin (6').
5. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-4, wherein the carrier element (1) is a rod-
shaped, rail-shaped or surface-shaped plastic part with a threaded pin (5) of metal and an
additional positioning pin (6) or selectively a second metal threaded pin, the lens-side end of
the metal interchangeable side piece (29) has recesses (10, 11) which are matched to the
length of the carrier element (1) and are positively engaging the latter, and the recesses (10,
11) of the interchangeable side piece (29) form catch sites on the inside metal boundaries
which are made to interact with the threaded pin (5) and the positioning pin (6).
11

6. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-5, wherein the shaft (4) of the carrier element
(1) is narrower than the diameter of the two pins (5, 6) and wherein the side piece at the
height of the two pins has recesses (10, 11) in the form of bulges for holding the two pins (5,
6) by catching.
7. Device as claimed in one of claims 1 -5, wherein the carrier element (1) on the top
of a T-beam (3) has a vertical dimension which is small compared to the diameter of the side
piece part (8).
8. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-7, wherein the carrier element (1) consists of
metal and the interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge (14, 32) consists
of plastic.
9. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-7, wherein the carrier element (1) consists of
metal and the interchangeable side piece (29) and/or interchangeable bridge (14, 32)
likewise consists of metal, and wherein the lens-side end of the interchangeable side piece
and/or interchangeable bridge is positively pushed or plugged in between the carrier element
(1) and the lens (7), the carrier element (1) on its visible side being matched in color and/or
design to the interchangeable side piece consisting preferably of spring material and/or to the
interchangeable bridge.

10. Device as claimed in one of claims 1-9, wherein the side pieces (36) and side
arms are made of spring material with a slotted recess (37) which is made on the lens-side
end and recesses (41, 43) located therein, which are made for positive holding of the
threaded pins (5, 6) of the carrier elements (1) and as locking sites when the side part (36) is
slipped onto the carrier element (1).
11. Process for changing eyeglass frames for rimless eyeglasses or full-framed
eyeglasses, in which the side piece part ends and/or bridge ends are each attached to the
eyeglass middle part by a carrier element which is interchangeably connected to the
interchangeable frame, and the mounting of the side piece part and/or the bridge is held by
the carrier element, characterized in that
a) in the lens (7) and in the middle part (13, 22) of the frame on the bridge side and/or
side piece side, holes (5') are drilled for holding threaded pins (5, 6) of the carrier
12

element (1),
b) the carrier element (1; 18, 27) is fixed with two threaded pins (5,6) of metal on the
eyeglass frame (19, 22) or on the lens (7) and is tightened by nuts, and
c) the connector part (8; 19, 29) is slipped onto the carrier element (1) which is roughly
T-shaped in cross section until the recess (10, 11) within the connector part catches
with the shaft (4) of the threaded pin (5) and the shaft of the positioning pin (6) or of
the further threaded pin (6').
12. Process for changing eyeglass frames as claimed in claim 11 for rimless
eyeglasses, wherein
a) on the side outer boundaries of the lens (7) for connection to the side piece parts (8)
or connector parts (8; 19, 29) one essentially rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped
metal carrier element (1) with a roughly T-shaped cross section and with threaded
pins (5, 6') or threaded pin (5) and positioning pin (6) is attached,
b) the connector part (8) or the side arm (32) of plastic has a recess (10, 11) which is
matched to the shape of the carrier element (1) with the length of the carrier element
and surrounding the latter, and
c) the connector part (8; 19, 29) of plastic is pushed onto the carrier element (1) until the
recesses (10, 11) within the connector part engage the shaft (4) of the threaded pins
(5, 6) by catching.
13. Process for changing eyeglass frames as claimed in claim 11, with a metal or
plastic middle part, wherein
a) on the side outer boundaries (15, 16; 23, 24) of the middle part (13, 22) one
extension (17, 18; 25; 26) at a time is formed on the frame of the middle part,
b) on the extension according to a) a rod-shaped or plate-shaped carrier element (1; 17,
18) of metal is attached to threaded pins (5, 6),
c) the connector part or the side arm (19) is provided with a recess (9) matched to the
shape of the carrier element with the length of the carrier element (1) and surrounding
the latter, and
d) the connector part (8) is pushed onto the carrier element (1) until the recesses (10, 11)
13

within the connector part engage the shaft (4) of the threaded pins by catching.
14. Process for changing side pieces and earpieces on eyeglass frames as claimed in
claim 11, wherein the connector part (29) adjoining the middle part is attached to the
stationary part of the metal hinge (30) and the earpiece (32) is attached to the pivotable part
of the metal hinge (30), and the connector part and the earpiece has a recess (9) matched to
the shape of the carrier element with the length of the carrier element and surrounding the
latter.
15. Process for changing side pieces and earpieces on eyeglass frames as claimed in
claim 11, wherein

a) the side piece (36) is made as a metal earpiece of spring material with a slotted recess
(37) and at least two successive catch sites (41, 42, 43) for positive holding of the two
threaded pins (5, 6),
b) the lens-side side piece part (36) is inserted or pushed in between the lens top (44)
and the bottom (46) of the T-beam (45) of the carrier element (1), and
c) the shafts (47, 48) of the threaded pins (5, 6) are inserted or pushed in positively and
under pressure to such an extent that the shafts (47, 48) become locked in the catch
sites (41, 42, 43) .
14

In exchangeable spectacle frames, in which the side arms and bridge are fastened to the lenses or central part of the
spectacle frame by a support element, the support element is a rod-shaped, rail-shaped or plate-shaped metal part with a metallic
threaded pin and an additional metallic positioning pin or threaded pin. The metallic or plastic end of the side arm on the side of
the lens, or the connecting element between the support element and metallic or plastic side arm, is shaped with recesses which are
adapted to the form of the support element, have the same length as the metallic part and engage the metallic part. The recesses in
the side arm form at least two catches on the lateral, inner plastic interfaces which interact with the threaded pin and positioning pin.
Alternatively, the side arms or bridges are made of an elastic material with a slit-shaped recess, in which recesses are located for
form-fittingly receiving the pins of the support element and locking them after their insertion.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=mDJX9ysxIr9cfNBQiyMDiQ==&loc=wDBSZCsAt7zoiVrqcFJsRw==

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Patent Number

268393

Indian Patent Application Number

4609/KOLNP/2007

PG Journal Number

36/2015

Publication Date

04-Sep-2015

Grant Date

27-Aug-2015

Date of Filing

28-Nov-2007

Name of Patentee

STRENZ MICHAEL

Applicant Address

PASSAUERSTR 14, 94474 VILSHOFEN

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	STRENZ MICHAEL	PASSAUERSTR 14, 94474 VILSHOFEN
2	WIED GUNTHER	MAX-EMANUEL-STR. 2, 94036 PASSAU

PCT International Classification Number

G02C 5/00, G02C 1/02

PCT International Application Number

PCT/DE2006/000765

PCT International Filing date

2006-05-02

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	102005020738.3	2005-05-04	Germany
2	102005026260.0	2005-06-08	Germany