Dual-folding eyeglasses and eyeglass collapsible case

Abstract

Embodiments of this patent disclosure provide for eyeglasses with multiple set of hinges for folding into a compact configuration to be fitted inside a compact case for easy storage and carrying. In one aspect, a pair of foldable eyeglasses having multiple set of hinges is disclosed. The eyeglasses include a frame surrounding a pair of lenses, and a pair of temples each of which extending from an outer edge of the frame, and the eyeglasses are in an unfolded configuration when the eyeglasses is being worn by a user. The eyeglasses also include a horizontal hinge positioned on each temple for folding the pair of temples horizontally from the unfolded configuration toward the frame into a first folded configuration. The eyeglasses additionally include a vertical hinge positioned on each temple for folding the pair of temples vertically from the first folded configuration toward the frame into a second folded configuration.

1 . A pair of foldable eyeglasses having multiple set of hinges, comprising:
 a frame surrounding a pair of lenses, and a pair of temples each of which extending from an outer edge of the frame, wherein the pair of eyeglasses is in an unfolded configuration when the pair of eyeglasses is being worn by a user;   a horizontal hinge positioned on each temple of the pair of temples for folding the pair of temples horizontally from the unfolded configuration toward the frame into a first folded configuration; and   a vertical hinge positioned on each temple for folding the pair of temples vertically from the first folded configuration toward the frame into a second folded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical hinge is positioned adjacent to the outer edge of the frame and between the horizontal hinge and the outer edge of the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical hinge is configured to rotate around an axis which is substantially parallel to the plane of the frame and substantially perpendicular to the outer edge of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 3 , wherein each temple includes a first portion located between the horizontal hinge and the vertical hinge and a second portion extended beyond the horizontal hinge, and wherein the first portion is affixed to the vertical hinge and is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the vertical hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 4 , wherein after folding the temples using the horizontal hinge into the first folded configuration, the second portion of the temple is substantially parallel to the plane of the frame while the first portion of the temple remains unfolded. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the temple is configured with a length which is substantially equal to or greater than a distance between the axis of the vertical hinge and a bottom edge of the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 4 , wherein folding the temples vertically from the first folded configuration toward the frame into the second folded configuration using the vertical hinge includes rotating the first portion of the temple around the axis of the vertical hinge by approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 4 , wherein after folding the temples vertically using the vertical hinge into the second folded configuration, the first portion of the temple is substantially parallel to the plane of the frame while remains perpendicular to the axis of the vertical hinge. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 4 , wherein the vertical hinge includes a tension spring which is configured to keep the first portion of the temple in an unfolded configuration even when the second portion of the temple is folded into the first folded configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 9 , wherein the tension spring is configured to unfold the second portion of the temple from the second folded configuration to the unfolded configuration when a tension is removed from the tension spring. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical hinge forms at least a part of an endpiece of the eyeglasses which connects the outer edge of the frame to the temple of the eyeglasses. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable eyeglasses of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable eyeglasses is operable to be placed inside a collapsible case which operates to fold the foldable eyeglasses from the first folded configuration into the second folded configuration by closing a lid of the collapsible case onto the partially folded temples of the foldable eyeglasses. 
     
     
         13 . An endpiece of a pair of foldable eyeglasses for connecting an outer edge of a rim of the eyeglasses to a temple of the eyeglasses, comprising:
 a stationary part which is affixed to the outer edge of the rim of the eyeglasses; and   a rotatory part which is affixed to the temple of the eyeglasses and attached to the stationary part horizontally through an attachment mechanism, wherein the rotatory part includes a tension spring which inclines to keep the temple of the eyeglasses in an unfolded configuration when the eyeglasses is being worn by a user,   wherein the stationary part and the rotatory part form a rolling hinge which is operable to fold the temple from the unfolded configuration vertically downward into a folded configuration such that the temple is substantially in the same plane as the rim of the eyeglasses.   
     
     
         14 . The endpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the stationary part further comprises:
 an attachment part for connecting the stationary part with the outer edge of the rim;   a fastening part attached to the attachment part and containing a threaded borehole; and   a first cylindrical tube attached to the attachment part such that the fastening part is substantially inside and coaxial with the first cylindrical tube.   
     
     
         15 . The endpiece of  claim 14 , wherein the rotatory part further comprises:
 a second cylindrical tube attached to the temple of the eyeglasses at an outer surface of the second cylindrical tube; and   the tension spring which is substantially positioned inside the second cylindrical tube and in contact with the inner surface of the second cylindrical tube which causes the tension spring to rotate along with the second cylindrical tube; and   wherein the second cylindrical tube is substantially coaxial with the first cylindrical tube.   
     
     
         16 . The endpiece of  claim 15 , wherein the tension spring includes an extended end which is securely attached to the stationary part of the rolling hinge. 
     
     
         17 . The endpiece of  claim 16 , wherein the tension spring is attached to the stationary part of the rolling hinge by being fitted inside a grove cut into the surface of the fastening part of the stationary part. 
     
     
         18 . The endpiece of  claim 14 , wherein the second cylindrical tube has a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical tube and greater than the diameter of the fastening part, wherein the second cylindrical tube is partially inserted into a gap between the first cylindrical tube and the fastening part. 
     
     
         19 . The endpiece of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a screw which passes through the tension spring and the second cylindrical tube and threaded into the threaded borehole of the fastening part, wherein the screw is coaxial with both the first cylindrical tube and the second cylindrical to facilitate the rotatory part of the rolling hinge to smoothly rotate around the stationary part of the rolling hinge. 
     
     
         20 . The endpiece of  claim 19 , wherein the head of the screw has a diameter greater than a diameter of an end opening of the second cylindrical tube so that the head of the screw is stopped by the end opening of the second cylindrical tube.