WO1999038047A1

WO1999038047A1 - Length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles

Info

Publication number: WO1999038047A1
Application number: PCT/KR1998/000270
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ji Moon Chang
Original assignee: Ji Moon Chang
Priority date: 1998-01-26
Filing date: 1998-08-29
Publication date: 1999-07-29
Also published as: KR200175675Y1; AU9005498A; KR980004594U

Abstract

A length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles is disclosed. In the arm of this invention, a length adjusting member (200) is telescopically coupled to a fixed guide member (100) in a way such that it is axially slidable relative to the guide member (100) in opposite directions within a predetermined range. The total length of the two telescopically coupled members are thus adjustable. The adjusted length of the arm is held by a locking pin (300) removably seated in either locking seat (211) of a guide slot (210) of the length adjusting member (200). In another embodiment, a plurality of locking holes in place of the locking seats are formed on the fixed guide member along an axial direction, while a spring-biased ball in place of the locking pin in radially set on the length adjusting member and is normally and radially biased.

Description

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LENGTH ADJUSTABLE ARM OF A PAIR OF SPECTACLES

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to the arms of a pair of spectacles and, more particularly, to an arm with an adjustable length capable of allowing a user to easily and comfortably wear a pair of spectacles while freely and selectively changing the length of the arms in accordance with the size of the his face.

Background Art

A pair of spectacles or glasses are two small pieces of shaped glass or plastic (lenses), in a frame worn in front of the eyes to improve sight. As well known to those skilled in the art, the rim of a pair of spectacles typically comprises a lens frame and arms. The typical arms of a pair of spectacles have been designed for having a fixed length.

Therefore, the sizes of the rims, having the length- fixed arms, are regrettably limited to two types: rims for adults and children, even though it is necessary for the rims to flexibly meet variously sized faces of users and various uses of the spectacles. Particularly in the case of children with inferior sight, the rims with length- fixed arms do not accommodate for the growth of a child's face, so that it is necessary to repeatedly change the existing rims or the small-sized rims with larger-sized rims which may better fit the face of a growing child.

This results in waste of natural resources and forces the parents of such children to repeatedly pay for the rims .

When a pair of spectacles, worn in front of the eyes -2-

of a user, do not fit the size of the user's face, the spectacles may easily slip down on the bridge of the nose or tighten and tension the arms of the user, thus being uncomfortable to the user. Some users habitually crease their foreheads in order to prevent the rims from slipping down on the bridge of the nose and this is liable to lead to a misunderstanding of those around the users. Such a habit of creasing the forehead may regrettably result in a deformation of the user's face when the habit is continued for a lengthy period of time.

In an effort to prevent the above-mentioned problems experienced in the rims having such length-fixed arms, several types of length adjustable arms, designed for allowing a user to selectively adjust the length of the arms of a pair of spectacles when necessary, are proposed and used. The construction of such length adjustable arms is shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In accordance with an embodiment of Fig. 1, the length adjustable arm comprises two parts: a fixed guide member 10 and a slidable length adjusting member 20. The guide member 10 is hollowed, thus having a hollow portion 11 with a longitudinal guide slit being formed on the side wall of the member 10. The above guide member 10 is also used for jointing the arm to a lens frame (not shown). The length adjusting member 20, forming the body of the arm of a pair of spectacles, is movably inserted into the hollow guide member 10 at its slide insert part. The position of the length adjusting member 20 relative to the guide member 10 is removably fixed by a screw 30. The screw 30 passes through the longitudinal guide slit of the guide member 10 prior to being screwed into the length adjusting member 20 with the head of the screw 30 being positioned on the outside face of the guide member 10. -3-

In accordance with another embodiment of Fig. 2, a plurality of regularly spaced engaging holes 21 are formed on the slidable length adjusting member 20, while a hole is formed on the side wall of the guide member 10. The position of the length adjusting member 20 relative to the guide member 10 is removably fixed by tightening a screw 30 passing through aligned holes of the two members 10 and 20.

However, the arms of Figs. 1 and 2 are problematic in that it is necessary to repeatedly loosen and tighten the screw 30 in order to adjust the length of the arms. Another problem of the above length adjustable arms resides in that the screw 30 may be unexpectedly loosened which may allow the spectacles to drop to the ground and breakage may occur.

In accordance with a further embodiment of Fig. 3, a plurality of regularly spaced locking slots 12 are formed on the outside wall of the guide member 10, while a locking projection 22 is formed on the length adjusting member 20. The position of the length adjusting member 20 relative to the guide member 10 is removably fixed by the locking projection 22 engaging with one of the locking slots 12. However, the arm of Fig. 3 is problematic in that the locking projection 22 is brought into close contact with one of the locking slots 12 and this forces a user to forcibly handle the arm when it is necessary to adjust the length of the arm. In such a case, the guide member 10 may be deformed, damaged or broken.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior -4-

art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles which allows a user to easily and comfortably wear the spectacles while freely and selectively changing the length of the arms in accordance with the size of his face, and which always maintains a desired tension suitable for preventing the rim of the spectacles from slipping down on the bridge of the nose and being comfortable to the user. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles, comprising: a fixed guide member; a length adjusting member .telescopically coupled to the guide member in a way such that it is axially slidable relative to the guide member in opposite directions within a predetermined range; locking means provided on a first one of the two members at a telescopically coupled portion and radially projecting to a predetermined height in a direction toward a second one of the two members; a guide slot axially formed on the second one of the two members at the telescopically coupled portion and having a plurality of regularly spaced locking seats, the guide slot being used for selectively guiding the locking means into either one of the locking seats, thus allowing the total length of the two telescopically coupled members to be adjustable; and means for normally biasing the length adjusting member relative to the guide member in an axial direction toward the guide member.

In another embodiment, the length adjustable arm comprises: a fixed guide member; a length adjusting member telescopically coupled to the guide member in a way such that it is axially slidable relative to the guide member in opposite directions within a predetermined range; a -5-

plurality of locking holes formed on a first one of the two members at axially and regularly spaced positions within a telescopically coupled portion of the two members; and a ball set on a second one of the two members at the telescopically coupled portion and normally biased in a radial direction toward the first one of the two members, thus being selectively brought into elastic engagement with one of the locking holes and allowing the total length of the two telescopically coupled members to be adjustable.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a known length adjustable arm in accordance with an embodiment of the prior art;

Fig. 2 is a view of a known length adjustable arm in accordance with another embodiment of the prior art; Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned view of a known length adjustable arm in accordance with a further embodiment of the prior art;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a length adjustable arm in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention, with both a locking pin and a uniquely patterned guide slot;

Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned view of the length adjustable arm of Fig. 4, showing the construction of the arm in detail; Fig. 6 is a view showing the operation of a slidable length adjusting member of the arm of Fig. 4 when the arm -6-

is manipulated to be shortened;

Fig. 7 is a view showing the operation of the length adjusting member of Fig. 6 when the arm is manipulated to be lengthened; Fig. 8 is a partially sectioned view of a length adjustable arm according to the second embodiment of this invention, with the fixed guide member of the arm being provided with a locking projection in place of the locking pin of the primary embodiment; Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a length adjustable arm in accordance with the third embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 10 is a partially sectioned view of the length adjustable arm of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 10.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a length adjustable arm according to the primary embodiment of this invention. Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned view of the above arm, showing the construction of the arm in detail. Fig. 6 is a view showing the operation of a slidable length adjusting member of the above arm when the arm is manipulated to be shortened. Fig. 7 is a view showing the operation of the length adjusting member when the arm is manipulated to be lengthened.

As shown in the drawings, the length adjustable arm of this invention comprises two parts: a fixed guide member 100 and a slidable length adjusting member 200. The guide member 100 is hollowed, thus having a hollow portion 110. A locking pin 300 is provided on the side -7-

wall of the member 100 in a way such that the pin 300 projects into the hollow portion 110. The above guide member 100 is also used for jointing the arm to a lens frame (not shown). The length adjusting member 200, forming the body of the arm of a pair of spectacles, is movably and axially inserted into the hollow guide member 100 at its slide insert part. That is, the two members 100 and 200 are telescopically coupled to each other, so that the total length of the two members 100 and 200 is adjustable as desired.

The length adjusting member 200 has an axial guide slot 210 on the outside wall of the slide inside part. The guide slot 210 is a uniquely patterned single slot with a plurality of, for example, three locking seats 211, 211a and 211b and slidably engages with the locking pin 300 of the guide member 100. The three locking seats 211, 211a and 211b are formed along the guide slot 210 at regularly spaced positions and individually communicate with the guide slot 210 by a circumferential channel. Within the hollow guide member 100, a spring or a compression coil spring 400 is fixed to the inside closed end of the hollow guide member 100 and is compressed by the end of the length adjusting member 200. The spring 400 thus normally biases the slide insert part of the length adjusting member 200 in an axial direction toward the guide member 100.

The first to third locking seats 211, 211a and 211b of the guide slot 210 are positioned along the axial direction of the length adjusting member 200 and are regularly spaced apart from each other. The three locking seats 211, 211a and 211b thus allow the length of the arm to be adjusted between three different lengths.

In the above embodiment, the length adjusting member -8-

200 has three locking seats 211, 211a and 211b capable of allowing a user to adjust the length of the arm between three different lengths which almost completely meet the expected different sizes of user's faces. However, it should be understood that the number of such locking seats is not limited to three, but may be somewhat freely changed without affecting the functioning of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a partially sectioned view of a length adjustable arm according to the second embodiment of this invention. In the second embodiment, the interior wall of the guide member 100 is provided with a locking projection 120 in place of the locking pin 300 of the primary embodiment. The operational effect of the arm of Figs. 4 to 7 will be described hereinbelow.

When it is necessary to adjust the length of the arm, the length adjusting member 200, biased by the spring 400 in the hollow guide member 100, is pulled from or pushed into the guide member 100 as shown by the arrow of Fig. 5 while overcoming the biasing force of the spring 400. In such a case, the movement of the slide insert part of the length adjusting member 200 in the hollow guide member 100 is guided by both the guide slot 210 and the locking pin 300 which are brought into movable engagement with each other. When the pin 300 is aligned with a desired locking seat 211, 211a or 211b, the length adjusting member 200 in the hollow guide member 100 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing, thus leading the pin 300 from the slot 210 into said desired seat 211, 211a or 211b through a circumferential channel. The length adjustment of the arm is thus accomplished.

That is, in order to shorten the arm with the pin 300 -9-

being seated in the middle locking seat 211a, the length adjusting member 200 in the hollow guide member 100 is primarily rotated clockwise as shown in Fig. 6 while slightly pushing the member 200 into the hollow guide member 100, thus leading the pin 300 from the middle seat 211a into the axial guide slot 210 through a circumferential channel.

Thereafter, the length adjusting member 200 is pushed into the hollow guide member 100 as shown by the solid arrow of Fig. 6 until the pin 300 is aligned with the seat 211. The length adjusting member 200 is, thereafter, rotated counterclockwise as shown in the drawing, thus leading the pin 300 from the slot 210 to the mouth of the seat 211 through a channel. When the length adjusting member 200 in the above case is released from outside force, the member 200 is slightly moved outwardly by the restoring force of the spring 400, so that the pin 300 is finally seated into the seat 211 as shown by the phantom arrow of Fig. 6. The length adjusting member 200 is thus almost completely prevented from unexpectedly moving within the hollow guide member 100.

That is, when the pin 300 of the guide member 100 is completely seated in the seat 211 of the length adjusting member 200, the arm is always appropriately tensioned by the spring 400. The tensioned arm almost completely prevents the rim of a pair of spectacles from slipping down on the bridge of the nose, so that the user feels comfortable. In order to lengthen the arm with the pin 300 being seated in the middle seat 211a, the length adjusting member 200 in the hollow guide member 100 is primarily rotated clockwise as shown in Fig. 7 while slightly - 10-

pushing the member 200 into the hollow guide member 100 in the same manner as described above. The pin 300 is thus led from the middle seat 211a into the axial guide slot 210 through a channel. Thereafter, the length adjusting member 200 is pulled from the hollow guide member 100 as shown by the solid arrow of Fig. 7 until the pin 300 is aligned with the seat 211b. The length adjusting member 200 is, thereafter, rotated counterclockwise as shown in the drawing, thus leading the pin 300 into the mouth of the seat 211b through a channel. When the length adjusting member 200 in the above case is released from outside force, the member 200 is slightly moved outwardly by the restoring force of the spring 400, so that the pin 300 is finally seated into the seat 211b as shown by the phantom arrow of Fig. 7.

The arm according to the primary embodiment thus allows a user to easily and comfortably wear a pair of spectacles while freely and selectively changing the length of the arms in accordance with the size of his face. The above arm also always maintains a desired tension by a spring 400, so that the arm effectively prevents the rim of the spectacles from slipping down on the bridge of the nose. The arm thus allows a user to feel comfortable.

The arm according to the second embodiment is operated in the same manner as that described for the arm of the primary embodiment and further explanation is thus not deemed necessary. Figs. 9 to 11 show a length adjustable arm in accordance with the third embodiment of this invention. That is, Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the length adjustable arm of the third embodiment. Fig. 10 - 11-

is a partially sectioned view of the arm of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 10.

As shown in the drawings, the length adjustable arm of the third embodiment comprises two parts: a guide member 100 and a slidable length adjusting member 200. The guide member 100 is hollowed, thus having a hollow portion 110 for receiving the slide insert part of the length adjusting member 200. A plurality of, preferably, three locking holes 130, 130a and 130b are regularly formed on the interior wall of the guide member 100 along the axial direction of the member 100.

A spring-biased ball 500 is set on the slide insert part of the length adjusting member 200. The above ball 500 selectively engages with either one of the three locking holes 130, 130a and 130b.

That is, the ball 500 is radially biased toward the sidewall of the guide member 100 by the spring 400.

In the third embodiment, the spring-biased ball 500 is set on the slide insert part of the length adjusting member 200. However, the position of the ball 500 is not limited to the length adjusting member 200, but may be set on the interior wall of the guide member 100 without affecting the functioning of this invention. In such a case, the lucking holes 130, 130a and 130b are regularly formed on the slide insert part of the length adjusting member 200 along the axial direction of the member 200.

In this embodiment, a guide bar 220 is axially provided on the length adjusting member 20O, while a guide groove (not shown) is axially formed on the interior wall of the guide member 100 at a position corresponding to the guide bar 220. Therefore, the slide insert part of the length adjusting member 20O is inserted into the hollow - 12-

guide member 100 with the guide bar 220 engaging with the guide groove of the guide member 100. Of course, the positions of both the guide bar 220 and the guide groove may be changed with each other without affecting the functioning of this invention.

Due to the slidable engagement of the guide bar 220 with the guide groove of the guide member 100, it is possible to reliably guide the spring-biased ball 500 into any one of the three locking holes 130, 130a and 130b. In order to shorten the arm with the spring-biased ball 500 being seated in the middle locking hole 130a, the length adjusting member 200 is pushed into the hollow guide member 100. In such a case, the ball 500 is removed from the middle hole 130a while compressing the spring 400.

The length adjusting member 200 is further pushed into the hollow guide member 100 under the guide of the guide bar 220 engaging with the guide groove of the guide member 100. When the ball 500 reaches the inside locking hole 130b, the spring-biased ball 500 is brought into engagement with said hole 130b. The arm is thus shortened to a desired length.

In order to lengthen the arm with the spring-biased ball 500 being seated in the middle locking hole 130a, the length adjusting member 200 is pulled from the hollow guide member 100. The ball 500 is thus removed from the middle hole 130a while compressing the spring 400.

The length adjusting member 200 is further pulled from the hollow guide member 100, so that the ball 500 reaches the outside locking hole 130. In such a case, the ball 500, biased by the spring 400, is brought into engagement with said hole 130. The arm is thus lengthened to a desired length. -13-

As described above, the arm according to the third embodiment is easily shortened or lengthened by pushing or pulling the length adjusting member 200 relative to the hollow guide member 100. When adjusting the length of the arm, the spring-biased ball 500 of the length adjusting member 200 is removed from an existing locking hole, for example, the middle hole 130a of the guide member 100 while compressing the spring 400. The length adjusting member 200 is thus axially movable in the hollow portion 110 of the guide member 100. When the length adjusting member 200 is further moved in the hollow guide member 100, the ball 500 finally reaches the inside or outside locking hole 130b or 130 prior to being elastically seated into the hole 130b or 130. The length of the arm is thus adjusted to a desired length.

Therefore, the arm according to the third embodiment thus allows a user to freely and selectively change the length of the arm in accordance with the size of his face. The above arm is also always appropriately tensioned by a spring, SO that the arm effectively prevents the rim of the spectacles from slipping down on the bridge of the nose. The arm thus allows a user to feel comfortable.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides a length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles. In accordance with the arm of this invention, a user easily and comfortably wears a pair of spectacles while freely and selectively changing the length of the arms in accordance with the size of his face. The arm also maintains a desired tension suitable for preventing the rim of the spectacles from slipping down on the bridge of - 14-

the nose, thus being convenient to the user. The arm thus allows some users, habitually creasing their foreheads in order to prevent the rims from slipping down on the bridge of the nose, to be free from such a habit of creasing their foreheads . Another advantage of the above arms resides in that the improvement in the tension of the arms on the user's face allows a user to live and work actively without concern for the spectacles sliding down on the bridge of his nose. The arm also allows the users to save money since the adjustable arms allow the glasses to be used for a lengthy period of time.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

-15-Clai s :

1. A length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles, comprising: a fixed guide member; a length adjusting member telescopically coupled to said guide member in a way such that it is axially slidable relative to the guide member in opposite directions within a predetermined range; locking means provided on a first one of said two members at a telescopically coupled portion and radially projecting to a predetermined height in a direction toward a second one of said two members; a guide slot axially formed on the second one of said two members at the telescopically coupled portion and having a plurality of regularly spaced locking seats, said guide slot being used for selectively guiding the locking means into either one of said locking seats, thus allowing the total length of the two telescopically coupled members to be adjustable; and means for normally biasing the length adjusting member relative to the guide member in an axial direction toward the guide member.

2. The length adjustable arm according to claim 1, wherein said locking seats are formed along said guide slot at regularly spaced positions and individually communicate with the guide slot by a circumferential channel.

3. The length adjustable arm according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is a locking pin having a predetermined length. -16-

4. The length adjustable arm according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a compression coil spring attached to both the guide member and the length adjusting member at its both ends, thus normally biasing the length adjusting member in an axial direction toward the guide member.

5. The length adjustable arm according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is a locking projection having the predetermined height.

6. A length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles, comprising: a fixed guide member; a length adjusting member telescopically coupled to said guide member in a way such that it is axially slidable relative to the guide member in opposite directions within a predetermined range; a plurality of locking holes formed on a first one of said two members at axially and regularly spaced positions within a telescopically coupled portion of the two members; and a ball set on a second one of said two members at the telescopically coupled portion and normally biased in a radial direction toward the first one of said two members, thus being selectively brought into elastic engagement with one of said locking holes and allowing the total length of the two telescopically coupled members to be adjustable.

7. The length adjustable arm according to claim 6, wherein said ball is radially and outwardly biased by a spring, thus being normally biased in the radial direction -17-

toward the first one of said two members.

8. The length adjustable arm according to claim 6, further comprising: a guide bar axially provided on either one of said two members at the telescopically coupled portion; and a guide groove axially formed on another one of said two members and slidably engaging with said guide bar, thus guiding an axial movement of said length adjusting member relative to the guide member.

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AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 26 May 1999 (26.05.99); original claims 6-8 cancelled; original claims 1,2 and 5 amended; remaining claims unchanged (2 pages)]

1. (amended) A length adjustable arm of a pair of spectacles, comprising a fixed member and a movable member, either of the two members, or an insert member, being slidably received in a remaining member, or a receiving member, at one end thereof, thus forming a telescopically coupling portion capable of allowing the two members to be axially slidable relative to each other in opposite directions, further comprising: locking means provided on a first one of said two members at the telescopically coupling portion and radially projecting to a predetermined height in a direction toward a second one of the two members; a guide slot axially formed on the second one of the two members and having a predetermined length, said guide slot movably engaging with the locking means, thus guiding a relative slide movement of the two members in cooperation with the locking means, said guide slot being also bent at one or more positions; and elastically biasing means axially provided in said receiving member at the telescopically coupling portion and adapted for biasing said insert member relative to the receiving member in an axial direction toward the receiving member.

2. (amended) The length adjustable arm according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of regularly spaced locking seats are formed along said guide slot at regularly spaced positions while being bent from an axis of the guide slot, thus forming a plurality of length adjusting areas and adapted for selectively seating the locking means so as to allow a total length of the two telescopically coupled members to be adjustable.

3. (not amended) The length adjustable arm according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is a locking pin having a predetermined length.

4. (not amended) The length adjustable arm according -19-

to claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a compression coil spring attached to both the guide member and the length adjusting member at its both ends, thus normally biasing the length adjusting member in an axial direction toward the guide member.

5. (amended) The length adjustable arm according to claim 1, wherein said two members individually have a cylindrical configuration at the telescopically coupling portion, thus being rotatable relative to each other.

6 . ( deleted)

7 . ( deleted)

8 . ( deleted)