Adjustable tensioning system for rimless eyewear

Abstract

Eyewear has a wire that encircles each of a pair of lenses respectively. A tensioning assembly can adjust and tension the wire. Two variations of tensioning assemblies are shown. One tensioning assembly has a spool on which a portion of the wire is wound. Another tensioning assembly has an insert that pulls a portion of the wire inwardly within a projection that extends outward from the lens.

1 . A method of inserting a lens of an eyewear assembly, the method comprising:
 expanding a closed wire loop;   inserting a lens into the expanded wire loop; and   contracting the closed wire loop around the lens.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing a temple from the eyewear assembly when the closed wire loop is expanded. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising connecting a temple to the eyewear assembly in conjunction with contracting the closed wire loop. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises a prescription lens. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contracting the closed wire loop around the lens comprises drawing into a projection an insert that is attached to the wire. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contracting the closed wire loop comprises turning a spool that is connected to the wire and that is positioned at least partially within a projection. 
   
   
       7 . A method of inserting a lens into an eyewear assembly, the method comprising:
 removing a temple from the eyewear assembly such that a wire loop is opened to receive said lens;   inserting a lens into the opened wire loop; and   reconnecting the temple to the eyewear assembly such that the wire loop is tensioned around the lens.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the lens is not a prescription lens. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the lens is a prescription lens. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein tensioning the wire loop around the lens comprises drawing into a projection an insert that is attached to the wire. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein tensioning the wire loop comprises turning a spool that is connected to the wire and that is positioned at least partially within a projection. 
   
   
       12 . A method of inserting a lens into an eyewear assembly, the method comprising:
 removing a temple from the eyewear assembly;   removing a first lens from an encircling wire of a eyewear assembly;   inserting a second lens into the encircling wire; and   reconnecting the temple to the eyewear assembly.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first lens and the second lens is not a prescription lens. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first lens and the second lens is a prescription lens. 
   
   
       15 . A method of inserting a lens into an eyewear assembly, the method comprising:
 decreasing the tension on a wire loop disposed in a groove substantially encircling a lens;   removing a first lens from said wire loop;   inserting a second lens into said wire loop; and   increasing the tension on said wire loop.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first lens and the second lens is not a prescription lens. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first lens and the second lens is a prescription lens. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein increasing the tension on the wire loop comprises drawing into a projection an insert that is attached to the wire. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein increasing the tension on the wire loop comprises turning a spool that is connected to the wire and that is positioned at least partially within a projection. 
   
   
       20 . A method of inserting assembling an eyewear assembly, the method comprising inserting a lens into an expanded closed wire loop and contracting the closed wire loop around the lens. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising connecting a temp to the eyewear assembly in conjunction with contracting the closed wire loop. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the lens comprises a prescription lens. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein contracting the closed wire loop around the lens comprises drawing into a projection an insert that is attached to the wire.