Temple bar with ball and socket hinge

Abstract

A novel hinge assembly for eyeglasses is provided wherein a first structural member for the hinge structure is formed in a first molding step and a second structural member of the hinge structure is formed directly over a portion of the first structural member in a second molding step. The present invention utilizes in-mold-assembly techniques to reduce the assembly steps required to form such a hinge assembly while further resulting in a hinge assembly that has increased adjustability and utility. Specifically, the overmolded components form a ball and socket type joint allowing a large degree of lateral rotation in one direction and a limited amount of freedom in a second direction. This hinge allows the temple portion of the eyeglasses to be folded against the brow bar and the inclination angle between the temples and the brow bar to be adjusted.

1 . A temple bar assembly comprising: 
 a front portion; and    a rear portion,    said front and rear portions of said temple bar assembly being movably coupled by a ball and socket joint including a ball formation and a socket formation,    one of said front and rear portions including said ball formation, and the other of said front and rear portions including said socket formation,    said rear portion of said temple bar assembly being movable relative to said front portion of said temple bar assembly between an open position and a closed.    
   
   
       2 . The temple bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion of said temple bar assembly includes said ball formation, and said rear portion of said temple bar assembly includes said socket formation.  
   
   
       3 . The temple bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said rear portion of said temple bar assembly includes said ball formation, and said front portion of said temple bar assembly includes said socket formation.  
   
   
       4 . Eyeglasses comprising: 
 a frame; and    at least one temple bar assembly extending rearwardly from a side edge of said frame,    said temple bar assembly having a front portion connected to said frame, and further having a rear portion,    said front portion of said temple bar assembly being movably coupled to said side edge of said frame by a ball and socket joint including a ball formation and a socket formation,    one of said front portion and said side edge including said ball formation, and the other of said front portion and said side edge including said socket formation,    wherein said temple bar is movable relative to said frame between an open position and a closed position.    
   
   
       5 . The eyeglasses of  claim 4 , wherein said front portion of said temple bar assembly includes said ball formation, and said side edge of said frame includes said socket formation.  
   
   
       6 . The eyeglasses of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one temple bar assembly comprises left and right temple bar assemblies extending rearwardly from respective left and right side edges of said frame.  
   
   
       7 . The eyeglasses of  claim 4 , wherein said side edge of said frame includes said ball formation, and said front portion of said temple bar assembly includes said socket formation.  
   
   
       8 . The eyeglasses of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one temple bar assembly comprises left and right temple bar assemblies extending rearwardly from respective left and right side edges of said frame.  
   
   
       9 . A hinge assembly for eyeglasses comprising: 
 a brow bar having at least a first end, said first end configured as a ball portion of a ball and socket type joint; and    at least one temple member having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end being formed in engaged relation with said ball portion of said brow bar wherein said first end of said temple member forms a socket portion of a ball and socket type joint, wherein said temple member is pivotable around a vertical axis relative to said brow bar.    
   
   
       10 . The hinge assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a lens assembly attached to said brow bar, wherein said temple member is also pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to said brow bar and lens assembly such that an angle of inclination between said temple bar and said lens assembly can be adjusted.    
   
   
       11 . The hinge assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a brow bar having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, each of said first and second ends configured as a ball portion of a ball and socket type joint; and    first and second temple members each having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end of said first temple member being formed in engaged relation with said ball portion of said first end of said brow bar, said first end of said second temple member being formed in engaged relation with said ball portion of said second end of said brow bar,    wherein said first ends of said first and second temple members form a socket portion of a ball and socket type joint, wherein said first and second temple members are pivotable relative to said brow bar around first and second vertical axis respectively.    
   
   
       12 . The hinge assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a lens assembly attached to said brow bar between said first and second ends of said brow bar, wherein said first and second temple members are also pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to said brow bar and lens assembly such that an angle of inclination between said first and second temple bars and said lens assembly can be adjusted.    
   
   
       13 . A hinge assembly for eyeglasses comprising: 
 at least one temple member having a first end, said first end configured as a ball portion of a ball and socket type joint; and    a brow bar having at least first end, said first end being formed in engaged relation with said ball portion of said temple member wherein said first end of said brow bar forms a socket portion of a ball and socket type joint, wherein said temple member is pivotable around a vertical axis relative to said brow bar.    
   
   
       14 . The hinge assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a lens assembly attached to said brow bar, wherein said temple member is also pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to said brow bar and lens assembly, such that an angle of inclination between said temple bar and said lens assembly can be adjusted.    
   
   
       15 . The hinge assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a first and second temple member each having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end of said first temple member being configured as a ball portion of a ball and socket type joint; and    a brow bar having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said first end of said brow bar being formed in engaged relation with said ball portion of said first end of said first temple member, said second end of said brow bar being formed in engaged relation with said ball portion of said first end of said second temple member, wherein said first and second ends of said brow bar form a socket portion of a ball and socket type joint, wherein said first and second temple members are pivotable relative to said brow bar around first and second vertical axis respectively.    
   
   
       16 . The hinge assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a lens assembly attached to said brow bar between said first and second ends of said brow bar, wherein said first and second temple members are also pivotable about a horizontal axis relative to said brow bar and lens assembly, such that an angle of inclination between said first and second temple bars and said lens assembly can be adjusted.