NOSE PAD ASSEMBLY FOR EYEGLASSES
A novel nose pad assembly for eyeglasses is provided wherein the support and nose pad are formed as a fully articulating ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint provides excellent adjustability of the nose pads in a simple mechanical construction. In a unique method of forming the nose pad assembly the support structure (ball) is formed in a first molding step and an adjustable pad member is molded directly over the ball of the support structure in a second molding step. The present invention utilized in-mold-assembly techniques to reduce the assembly steps required to form such a nose pad assembly while further resulting in a nose pad that has increased adjustability and utility. Alternately, the pad portion may be formed first and the support structure formed second. Also, the materials selected may include either hard or soft plastics to form either component.
1 . A method of forming a nose piece assembly for eyeglasses, said nose piece assembly including a support member and two nose pad members, said nose pad members movable relative to said support member, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a mold cavity having a first profile;
filling said mold cavity with a first polymer to form a support member, said support member having two receiver formations thereon, said support member being further configured to engage a central portion of said eyeglasses;
removing at least a portion of said mold cavity, said portion being adjacent said receiver formations;
replacing said removed portion of said mold cavity with a second mold cavity having a second profile; and
filling said second mold cavity with a second polymer to form two nose pad members around said receiver formations, said nose pad members engaging with said receiver formations to hold said nose pad members in assembled relation with said support member, wherein said nose piece assembly is a completed assembly upon removal from the mold cavity, wherein said nose pad members are movable relative to said receiver formations.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said support member is molded in one mold tool and then inserted into a second mold tool for molding of the nose pads.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiver formations and said nose pads are joined by a post formation and a socket formation providing rotational movement of said nose pads.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said receiver formation comprises a post formation, and said nose pads include a socket formation, said nose pads being rotatable about said post formations.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said first polymer is a hard polymer and said second polymer is an elastomer.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are both a hard polymer.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
removing said completed assembly from said mold cavity; and
articulating said nose pad members relative to said support member to ensure that said nose pad members are not bonded to said support member.
8 . A method of forming a nose piece assembly for eyeglasses, said nose piece assembly including a support member and two nose pad members, said nose pad members movable relative to said support member, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a mold cavity having a first profile;
filling said mold cavity with a first polymer to form two nose pad members, each of said nose pad members having a receiver formations thereon;
removing at least a portion of said mold cavity, said portion being adjacent said receiver formations;
replacing said removed portion of said mold cavity with a second mold cavity having a second profile; and
filling said second mold cavity with a second polymer to form a support member around said receiver formations, said support member engaging with said receiver formations to hold said nose pad members in assembled relation with said support member, said support portion being further configured to engage a central portion of said eyeglasses, wherein said nose piece assembly is a completed assembly upon removal from the mold cavity, wherein said nose pad members are movable relative to said support member.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said support member is molded in one mold tool and then inserted into a second mold tool for molding of the nose pads.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said receiver formations and said nose pads are joined by a post formation and a socket formation providing rotational movement of said nose pads.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said receiver formation comprises a post formation, and said nose pads include a socket formation, said nose pads being rotatable about said post formations.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said first polymer is an elastomer and said second polymer is a hard polymer.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are both a hard polymer.
14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
removing said completed assembly from said mold cavity; and
articulating said nose pad members relative to said support member to ensure that said nose pad members are not bonded to said support member.