Importance

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Abstract

The invention relates to an eyewear frame, comprising a forehead part with two ends and arranged to extend around the eyes of a user when worn and two temple parts each extending rearwardly from a front of the eyewear frame, and from each end of the forehead part. The forehead part and the temple part being moulded together in a single mould from a first polymer material and comprising a plastic hinge located at the junction of each end of the forehead part and each temple part, said plastic hinge being formed by a region of the polymer material having thickness which is significantly less than the thickness of corresponding forehead part ends and temple parts adjacent the plastic hinge region, such that the temple parts may be moved about the plastic hinge with respect to the forehead part between an open position in which the eyewear may be worn on a user's head, and a closed position in which the temple parts are arranged approximately parallel to the forehead part and the eyewear may be more conveniently stowed when not in use. The plastic hinges exert a restoring force which urges the temple parts of the frame to either the closed or open position, such that the eye wear frame automatically folds back to the folded position after use, or automatically opens to the open position. The plastic hinge may be formed as a curved strip. The eyewear frame may be co-moulded with the first polymer material and a second polymer material, having a lower modulus of elasticity, or flexural modulus, than the first polymer.

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First Claim