Eyeglass frame
US7441888B1 · kind B1 · utility
18Cited by
138References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29D12/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Eyeglass frame hinges are replaced by flexures made of hyperelastic single-crystal shape memory alloy. These flexures exhibit more than 8 percent recoverable strain. Eyeglass frames with these flexures can be distorted repeatedly in ways that would destroy ordinary hinges, and recover without damage. Flexures may be incorporated in eyeglass frames in ways that make them attractive as fashion items, thus enhancing the value of a commodity consumer product.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.