WO2001035159A1

WO2001035159A1 - Split-pin hinge with wire extending therethrough

Info

Publication number: WO2001035159A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/031087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Genji Watanabe; Charles R. Coleman
Original assignee: Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-11-12
Filing date: 2000-11-09
Publication date: 2001-05-17
Also published as: AU1485701A

Abstract

Hinge and one or more wires, or electrical conductors, wherein a segment of such wire or wires extends axially through at least one hollow pivot pin portion of a hinge and wherein such segment of the wire or wires is placed in torsion upon the hinge being pivoted. The hinge and wire may be used as part of an eyeglass assembly having electronics within the temple which influence a lens. In such an arrangement the hinge has two hollow pivot pin portions and a wire associated with the electronics routed through each. One pivot pin portion is made of an electrically insulating material and a wire associated with the positive side of the electronics is routed through this portion.

Description

SPLIT-PIN HINGE WITH WIRE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of Application No. 09/438,213, filed November 12, 1999. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a hinge and a wire extending through the hinge and further relates to eyeglasses, such as electrooptic eyeglasses, including a hinge through which one or more, preferably a set, of conductors extend to connect electrical components such as an electrical circuit and power supply to an eyeglass lens, thereby causing the lens to change an optical characteristic such as, for example, color, opaqueness, transmissivity or other optical property.

2. Description of the Background Art

Eyeglasses typically include a frame in which a pair of eyeglass lenses are mounted, a pair of temples and a pair of hinges pivotally interconnecting the frame and the temples. Each hinge typically includes a tang extending outwardly from one end of the eyeglass frame, a clevis provided on one end of a temple and including a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel clevis members, and a pivot pin. The tang is provided with a pivot pin through hole and the clevis members are provided with a pair of axially aligned pivot pin through holes. The clevis members are placed around the tang, the through holes are axially aligned and the connector pin is inserted into the aligned through holes to pivotally interconnect the tang and clevis. A "barrel type" eyeglass hinge is similar except it contains multiple tangs interleaved with clevises. Eyeglasses are known in the art including electrooptical eyeglass lenses which are provided with or comprise an optical element which changes an optical characteristic, such as opaqueness, color, transmissivity, or other optical property, upon an electrical signal or electric charge being applied to the eyeglass lens. For example, U.S. Patent 4,756,605, entitled LIQUID CRYSTAL SPECTACLES, patented July 12, 1988, Okada et al. inventors, discloses spectacles having a pair of liquid crystal lenses, a frame, a pair of temples and a pair of hinges pivotally interconnecting the temples and the frame of the spectacles. A regulator circuit is provided in each temple and a regulator circuit is connected to the eyeglass lenses through a pair of conductors with the conductor extending through the brow of the spectacle frame and with the conductor extending through the rim of the spectacle frame. The conductors are connected to transparent electrodes and when voltage from the regulator circuit is applied to the electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layers gradually change their direction of orientation toward (i.e., become perpendicular to) the transparent plate. Thus, the refractive indices of liquid crystal layers, with respect to incident light, can be changed in succession.

Other eyeglasses are known in the art which include electrochromic eyeglass lenses or wherein a transparent layer of electrochromic material is applied to the eyeglass lenses. Upon electrical charge being applied to such electrochromic lenses, the lenses change in transmittance property. See, for example, U.S. Patent 5,520,851 entitled "IRRIDIUM OXIDE FILM FOR ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICE", issued to Yu et al . on May 26, 1996, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The incorporation of such electronics into eyeglasses has produced a new need in the art. Unless all of the electronics, including the electrical signal generating circuit and the power supply, are placed between the hinge and the eyeglass frame, electrical connections between the electronics and the eyeglass lens must be made by traversing the hinge. Electrical connections traversing the hinge could provide only temporary electrical connection between the electronics and the lens which is lost when the frame is closed, or such electrical connections could be provided by sliding wiper contact which is lost momentarily as the wipers slide, or such electrical connections could be permanently connected wires extending between the electronics and the eyeglass lens. For reliability, permanent connection by wires, or electrical conductors, between the electronics and the lens is preferred. Further, since such permanent wired connections require the wired electrical conductors to traverse the hinge, it is preferable that the wires not experience a concentrated bending moment when the eyeglasses are alternately opened and closed because such repeated concentrated bending moments can result in breakage or shearing of the wires or electrical conductors.

Running the wires or electrical conductors past a hinge or pivot point between a temple and the eyeglass frame introduces several problems. If the wires, or conductors, run to the outside of the hinge or pivot point, the wires or conductors are stretched when the temples are closed on the eyeglass frame. If the wires or conductors are on the inside of the hinge or pivot point, the wires or conductors are stretched when the temples are opened away from the eyeglass frames. If the wires or conductors are on the outside of the hinge or pivot point and made long enough to not be under tension when the temples are closed on the eyeglass frame, the wires or conductors are then compressed and could be kinked when the eyeglass frame is opened and the temples pivoted away from the eyeglass frame.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a hinge having one or more wires, such as one or more electrical conductors, extending therethrough which overcomes the above- noted problems in the art particularly as experienced in eyeglass frames as set forth above.

Copending and commonly assigned U.S. Patent Application 09/211,787 discloses a hinge for electrooptic devices which places a torsional stress on conductive wires passing through the hinge. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages associated with the prior art are overcome by the invention of a tang/clevis-type hinge and one or more wires, or electrical conductors, wherein a portion of such wire or wires is run axially through the center of at least one of two separate, axially-aligned, pivot pin portions of said hinge, and through a gap between the opposed ends of said pivot pin portions, thereby causing such wire or wire portions to be placed in torsion upon pivoting movement of the hinge. Thus, the novel tang/clevis-type hinge of this invention is a split pin hinge comprising first and second split pin portions, a tang, a clevis and a wire or conductor, wherein a first portion of said split pin is inserted from a first side of said hinge and a second portion of said split pin is inserted from the opposite side into said tang and clevis thereby pivotally connecting said tang and clevis. The opposing ends of the pin portions do not meet when inserted into the hinge, which forms a gap that allows said wire to pass between the opposed ends of the first and second pin portions and into an axial bore in either or both of the pin portions. As such, the split pin assembly eliminates any stretching of the wire(s) upon opening or closing of the hinge. Such a split-pin hinge and wire combination may be utilized as any eyewear hinge and combined advantageously with the other components of a pair of eyeglasses including eyeglass lenses which undergo a change in optical characteristic, such as transmittance, when an electrical signal, or electric charge, is applied to the eyeglass lenses over wires or electrical conductors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present invention can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of eyeglasses embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a hinge embodying the present invention and including a tang, clevis and first and second split pin portions;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the tang, clevis and first and second split pin portions and further showing a pair of wires or electrical conductors extending through a bore in the lower pin portion and the gap between the axially aligned pin portions;

FIG. 4 is a partial diagrammatical view of a wire or electrical conductor experiencing torsion;

FIG. 5 is a partial diagrammatical view of a wire or conductor experiencing bending about a pivot point; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternative hinge embodiment of the present invention including a tang, clevis and first and second split pin portions; and

Fig. 7 is an assembled view of the tang, clevis and first and second split pin portions and further showing a wire or electrical conductor extending through a bore in each of the pin portions and the gap between the axially aligned pin portions .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there are shown electrooptic eyeglasses 10 embodying the present invention. Eyeglasses 10 include a frame 12 in which a pair of eyeglass lenses 14 and 15 are mounted, a nosepiece or bridge 16, temples 18 and 19 and hinges 22 and 24 which mount the temples 18 and 19 pivotally to the frame 12. Electrooptic eyeglass lenses 14 and 15, in a preferred embodiment, are electrochromic lenses of the type known to the art which undergo a change in optical characteristic, for example, a change in their transmittance property, upon the application of a suitable electric charge to the electrochromic lens. The temples 18 and 19 may have respective electronics, electrical circuits for generating electric charge and power supplies, 23 and 25 mounted suitably internally thereof for respectively applying electric charge to the electrooptic eyeglass lenses 14 and 15 over a pair of wires or electrical conductors not shown in FIG. 1. It will be understood that instead of having two sets of electronics 23 and 25, a single electrical circuit and power supply may be provided in only one of the temples for applying electric charge to only one eyeglass lens and the eyeglass lens 14 and 15 may be electrically interconnected by a suitable conductor (not shown) extending across the bridge 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, representative hinge 24, embodying the present invention, is shown in exploded view. Hinge 24 may include a tang 26, preferably a tang which is generally rectangular, extending outwardly from the eyeglass frame 12, a generally U-shaped clevis 28 extending outwardly from one end of the temple 19 and separate first and second axially-aligned pivot pin portions 30a and 30b, forming split cylindrical and longitudinally extending pivot or connector pins. Alternatively, as depicted in Fig. 6, the tang 26 can extend outwardly from a temple and the clevis 28 can extend outwardly from the frame. Furthermore, the tang 26 may have a rounded distal end to facilitate clearance for movement when the tang 26 is coupled to the clevis 28.

Returning to Fig. 2, the tang 26 is provided with a through hole or bore 31 for receiving pivot or connector pin portions 30a and 30b, and the tang 26 is further provided with a longitudinally extending hole or bore 32 extending through the tang and generally perpendicular to and in communication with the gap 42 (see Fig. 3) between connector pin portions 30a and 30b and hole 31. The clevis 28 includes a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel clevis members or arms 34 and 35 provided, respectively, with axially aligned pivot or connector pin through holes or bores 37 and 38 for receiving pivot pin portions 30a and 30b.

One or both of the pivot or connector pin portions 30a and 30b are hollow, i.e., either or both are provided with a centrally formed axial bore 40a and 40b extending longitudinally through the pivot pin portions . Pivot pin portions 30a and 30b are operably connected to the instant hinge by any suitable means. For example, the cylinder shaft diameter of first and second pivot pin portions 30a and 30b can be sized so as to provide a contact or pressure fit within clevis through holes 37 and 38 and a clearance or slip fit through tang through hole 31, or vice versa.

Additionally, pin portions 30a and 30b preferably contain radially extending flanges 54a and 54b. Hole 37 in clevis arm 34 is preferably counterbored to accept the head of flange 54a and hole 38 in clevis arm 35 is preferably counterbored to accept flange 54b. When assembled, flanges 54a and 54b preferably rest against the counterbore surfaces of holes 37 and 38, respectively. Appropriate peens may be used to help secure pivot pin portions 30a and 30b in holes 37 and 38, respectively. Thus, when the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b are fit into bores 37, 38 and 31, they may be retained by peen crimps (not shown) in clevis arms 34 and 35. It will be understood that bore 32, in the preferred embodiment, provides a passageway for receiving a segment or segments of one or more wires or electrical conductors used to connect the electronics 25 provided in the temple 19 with the electrooptic lens 15 mounted in the eyeglass frame 12. It is noteworthy that the wire(s) or conductor (s) can connect any type of electrical components across the hinge and that direct connection to a lens is not necessary. In a preferred embodiment, axial bores 40a and 40b in either or both of pivot pin portions 30a and 30b, gap 42 formed between the opposing ends of split pin portions 30a and 30b, and bore 32 combine to provide a continuous passageway for various segments of such wires or electrical conductors.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7, the combined length of each pivot pin portion 30a and 30b when placed in opposing relationship is such that when inserted within the clevis 28, they provide a gap 42 through which at least one electrical conductor may pass.

Referring still to FIG. 2, for assembly, the clevis members or arms 34 and 35 are placed over the tang 26 and the pivot or connector pin through hole 31 formed in the tang and the pivot pin through holes 37 and 38 formed respectively in the clevis members 34 and 35 are axially aligned and the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b are inserted through the aligned through holes to hingedly or pivotally interconnect the tang 26 and clevis 28. The opposing ends of pin portions 30a and 30b do not make contact after installation, thereby forming gap 42 which, with bore hole 32 and axial bores 40a and/or 40b, provide a continuous wire passageway. The size of the gap is determined by the relative length of pin portions 30a and 30b and should be sufficient to accommodate all wires or conductors passing therethrough. It should be noted that one or both pivot pin portions 30a and 30b may be slotted at one end to provide a gap in which at least one electrical conductor may pass. In this fashion, the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b may be lengthened so they abut when inserted within the clevis 28.

Preferably, once the pin portions 30a and 30b are inserted such that the flanges 54a and 54b rest against the counterbore surfaces of bores 37 and 38, peens are struck to fix the pin portions 30a and 30b into the hinge 24.

Alternatively, it will be understood that the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b, tang pivot pin through hole 31 and clevis pivot pin through holes 37 and 38 are dimensioned such that the cylinders of split pin portions 30a and 30b are alternatively press-fit into the tang through hole 31 to mount the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b and tang 26 stationarily with respect to each other. Additionally, the cylinders of split pin portions 30a and 30b are alternatively slip-fit into the clevis pivot pin through holes 37 and 38 to permit relative movement between the clevis 28 and the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b, such that pivotal movement is provided between the tang 26 and clevis 28 by the clevis 28 pivoting about the opposed ends of split pin portions 30a and 30b. Alternatively, the pressure and slip-fit sizings can be reversed between the tang and clevis.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the representative hinge 24 is shown assembled as described above with regard to FIG. 2. It will be noted in FIG. 3 that in the assembled condition, gap 42 formed between pivot pin portions 30a and 30b is opposed and in communication with the longitudinal bore 32 formed in tang 26. The eyeglasses 10 may further include one or a plurality, preferably a pair of wires, or electrical conductors 43 and 44, connecting the electronics, electrical circuit and power supply, 25 to electrooptic eyeglass lens 15. The electronics 25 supplies a suitable electric charge over the wires 43 and 44 to the eyeglass lens 15 to cause the eyeglass lens to undergo a change in transmittance property as noted above. In the preferred embodiment, the wires or electrical conductors 43 and 44 are made of spring temper wire, or alternatively, the electrical conductors may include a suitable metal core surrounded by any suitable layer of insulation, such as a plastic insulation layer. As shown in FIG. 3, the wires or electrical conductors 43 and 44 extend along the outside of the clevis 28, are bent inwardly and are extended into the axial bore 40b provided in split pin portion 30b and are bent and extend outwardly and through gap 42 formed between pivot pin portions 30a and 30b and into and through the longitudinal bore 32 formed in the tang 26 for connection, directly or indirectly, to the electrooptic eyeglass lens 15. Connection to lens 15 may be made by any suitable connection means, for example, by a solder connection to a bus bar applied to lens 15. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b are mounted stationarily with respect to the tang 26 and the clevis 28 swings or pivots about the remaining segments of connector pin portions 30a and 30b. Accordingly, it will be understood, that the portions of the wires or electrical conductors 43 and 44 residing in the axial bore 40b of connector pin portion 30b are placed in torsion as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 4 by the oppositely directed circular arrows, and not subjected to bending as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 5 about a pivot point, during pivoting movement between the tang 26 and clevis 28 provided by the clevis 28 swinging or pivoting about the opposed pivot pin portions 30a and 30b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a bore is not required through split pin portion 30a. However, such embodiments are contemplated if, for example, additional wires or conductors extend along both clevis arms 34 and 35.

Referring again to FIG. 3, eyeglasses 10 may further include a suitable cover, not shown, residing over the wires or electrical conductors 43 and 44 and the outer end portion of the temple 19 extending toward the eyeglass frame 12.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment whereby each of the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b has a bore 40a and 40b extending therethrough. Just as before a gap 42 is formed between pivot pin portions 30a and 30b and this gap 42 is in communication with the longitudinal bore 32 formed in tang 26. Details of FIG. 7 are similar to those details in FIG. 3 with the exception of modifications made to accommodate the routing of electrical conductors 43 and 44 such that they pass through axial bore 40a of pivot pin portion 30a and axial bore 40b of pivot pin portion 30b respectively. The electrical conductors 43 and 44 extend along the outside of the clevis 28 but do so on opposite sides of the clevis 28. Both of the electrical conductors 43 and 44 extend through the longitudinal bore 32 formed in the tang 26 for connection directly or indirectly to the electrooptic eyeglass lens 15 (FIG.2). Therefore, just as before, when the tang 26 is pivoted relative to the clevis 28 about the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b, the portions of the wires or electrical conductors 43 and 44 residing in the axial bores 40a and 40b of the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b respectively are placed in torsion as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 4 and are not subjected to bending as indicated in diagrammatically in FIG. 5.

In the unlikely event the layer of insulation about the electric conductor 43 or electrical conductor 44 becomes damaged, the spatial separation between the electrical conductors 43 and 44 which occurs along a significant portion of their lengths, will prevent a short between the wires. In particular, if such damage occurs it is likely the result of the torsional motion imparted by pivoting the tang 26 relative to the clevis 28 and as illustrated in FIG. 7, the portions of the electrical conductor 43 and 44 subjected to torsion are routed through the bores 40a and 40b of different pivot pin portions 30a, 30b, and as a result are spatially separate from one another.

To minimize damage that may be caused by abrasion, the edges of pivot pin portions 30a and 30b proximate to the electrical conductors 43 and 44 may be formed with a radius thereby minimizing any cutting action these edges may have.

To provide additional insulation for the electrical conductors 43 and 44, the pivot pin portions 30a and 30b may be comprised of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic. Such plastic may include polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or, in the alternative, polysulfone. For reinforcement, either of these plastics may be glass filled. The plastic may also be 40% glass filled PEEK or 40% glass filled polysulfone. Additionally, other electrically insulating materials may be used in place of plastic. By providing, as much as possible, separate routing for electrical conductors 43 and 44 as they pass through the clevis 28 and the tang 26, the likelihood of a short between the wires, if and when they become frayed, is minimized. Nevertheless, when and if such damage occurs, the physical separation between the electrical conductors 43 and 44 is such that the likelihood of direct contact between the electrical conductors 43 and 44 when they are damaged is minimal. Therefore to the extent the insulation layer is damaged and the metal core of the wire is not damaged, the electronics associated with the apparatus will maintain their full functionality.

Although pivot pin portions 30a and 30b may be made of plastic, it is also possible to have at least one pivot pin portion made of a material offering greater rigidity, such as metal. To this end, electrical conductors 43 and 44 will be referred to as positive conductor 43 and ground conductor 44. The eyeglass frame and temples may be metal or plastic. When the eyeglass frame and temples are metal, there is a concern that the if the positive electrical conductor 43 becomes frayed in the region of the first pivot pin portion 30a, which is metal, and the positive electrical conductor contacts and shorts with the first pivot pin portion 30a, the power supply of the electronics 25 will be drained. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, for an eyeglass frame and temples made of metal, the first pivot pin portion 30a routed through the positive conductor 30a is plastic. The second pivot pin portion 30b associated with the ground conductor 44 may be metal to provide enhanced structural rigidity to the hinge 24.

In the instance of the eyeglass frame and temples made of plastic, or another electrically insulating material, then both pivot pin portions 30a and 30b may be made of metal. In brief review, it has been discovered that by running a segment of a wire or conductor through the center of at least one hollow pivot pin portion 30b and then through gap 42 between opposed pivot pin portions 30a and 30b of a hinge, such wire segment is placed in torsion upon pivotal hinge movement, which torsion is distributed along the length of such wire segment and such wire segment experiences relatively moderate strain and such strain is not concentrated at a pivot point as would be the case for such wire portion were the wire portion to experience bending during pivoting of the hinge. Additionally, the inventive arrangement permits the wire(s) to be hidden from view at all times.

Lastly, it will be understood that the present hinge and wire invention may be embodied in apparatus or devices other than eyeglasses and the present hinge and wire invention is not limited to eyeglasses. Furthermore, the foregoing embodiment of the invention contains a single tang that couples to a clevis having two arms. Those skilled in the art will realize from the foregoing disclosure that the hinge can alternatively contain multiple tangs and multiple clevis arms, i.e., the hinge could be a barrel-type hinge. Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hinge and wire apparatus comprising at least a first wire and a second wire and a pivotable hinge including first and second opposed, axially aligned, pivot pin portions, at least one of said pivot pin portion having a centrally formed axial bore extending therethrough, wherein a first wire segment of at least one wire extends through the bore of said first pivot pin portion and through a gap between the opposing ends of said pivot pin portions, thereby placing said at least one wire in torsion upon pivoting of said hinge.

2. The hinge and wire apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first pivot pin portion and said second pivot pin portion each have a centrally formed axial bore extending therethrough and wherein a first wire segment of said first wire extends through the bore of said first pivot pin portion and through said gap and wherein a first wire segment of said second wire extends through the bore of said second pivot pin portion and through said gap, thereby placing said first and second wires in torsion upon pivoting of said hinge.

3. The hinge and wire apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a tang and clevis having said pivot pin portions pivotally interconnecting said tang and said clevis.

4. The hinge and wire apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tang further comprises a tang wire passageway, wherein a second segment of said wire extends through said tang wire passageway.

5. The hinge and wire apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said gap between said pivot pin portions is generally opposite said tang wire passageway.

6. The hinge and wire apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivot pin portions each comprise a generally cylindrical and longitudinally extending body and wherein said gap is present between the opposing ends of said pivot pin portions when said portions are fully inserted within said hinge .

7. The hinge and wire apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said tang includes a first pivot pin through hole extending therethrough for receiving said pivot pin portions and a longitudinal bore extending generally longitudinally through said tang and generally perpendicular to and in communication with said first pivot pin through hole.

8. The hinge and wire apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said clevis includes a generally U-shaped body including a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel clevis members having, respectively, second and third axially aligned pivot pin through holes extending therethrough for receiving said pivot pin portions, upon said clevis members being placed over said tang and upon said pivot pin through holes being axially aligned said pivot pin portions being inserted through said pivot pin through holes to pivotally interconnect said tang and said clevis.

9. The hinge and wire apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivot pin portions each comprise a first end and a second end, wherein each of said first ends contains a radially extending flange.

10. An eyeglass apparatus, comprising: an eyeglass frame, a pair of temples and a pair of hinges respectively pivotally interconnecting said eyeglass frame with said temples, a pair of eyeglass lenses mounted in said eyeglass frame and each of said eyeglass lenses comprising optical means for changing an optical characteristic of said eyeglass lenses upon receipt of an electrical signal, an electrical circuit for providing an electrical signal to at least one of said eyeglass lenses and said electrical circuit mounted to at least one of said temples, at least one of said hinges including a tang and a clevis and first and second separate, axially-aligned pivot pin portions pivotally interconnecting said tang and said clevis, at least a first electrical conductor interconnecting said electrical circuit with at least one of said eyeglass lenses and a first segment of said first electrical conductor extending through a conductor passageway formed in one of said pivot pin portions.

11. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 10 wherein a conductor passageway is formed in both said first pivot pin portion and said second pivot pin portion and wherein said first electrical conductor extends through said conductor passageway of said first pivot pin portion and wherein a second electrical conductor extends through said conductor passageway of said second pivot pin portion.

12. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 11 wherein a) said first electrical conductor is an electrical positive conductor for said electrical circuit and said second electrical conductor is an electrical ground conductor for said electrical circuit; b) at least one of said eyeglass frame and temple associated with said electrical circuit is metal; and c) said first pivot pin portion is made of an electrically insulating material.

13. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electrically insulating material is plastic.

14. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second pivot pin portion is made of metal.

15. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 11 wherein a) said eyeglass frame and temple associated with said electrical circuit are made of an electrically insulating material; and b) said first pivot pin portion is made of metal.

16. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 15 wherein the electrically insulating material is plastic.

17. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second pivot pin member is made of metal.

18. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 10 wherein a second segment of each electrical conductor extends through a gap between opposing end of said pivot pin portions and through a second conductor passageway formed in said tang.

19. The eyeglass apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each of said pivot pin portions comprises a generally cylindrical and longitudinally extending body and wherein each conductor passageway comprises an axial bore extending generally longitudinally through each pivot pin portions and in communication with said gap.

20. The eyeglass apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said tang includes a first pivot pin through hole extending therethrough for receiving said pivot pin portions and wherein said second conductor passageway comprises a longitudinal bore extending generally longitudinally through said tang and generally perpendicular to and in communication with said first pivot pin through hole.

21. The eyeglass apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said clevis includes a generally U-shaped body including a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel and generally rectangular clevis members having, respectively, second and third axially aligned pivot pin through holes extending therethrough for receiving said pivot pin portions, upon said clevis members being placed over said tang and upon said pivot pin through holes being axially aligned said pivot pin portions being inserted through said pivot pin through holes to pivotally interconnect said tang and said clevis.

22. The eyeglass apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said eyeglass apparatus further comprises a second electrical circuit for providing an electrical signal to the other of said eyeglass lenses and said second electrical circuit mounted to the other one of said temples, a second hinge including a second tang and a second clevis and a second pair of separate, axially aligned pivot pin portions pivotally interconnecting said second tang and said second clevis, a second electrical conductor interconnecting said second electrical circuit with the other of said eyeglass lenses and a segment of said second electrical conductor extending through a conductor passageway formed in either of the pivot pin portions comprising said second pair and a second segment of said second electrical conductor extending through a fourth conductor passageway formed in said second tang, said second electrical conductor being placed in torsion upon pivotal movement between said second tang and said second clevis about said second pair of pivot pin portions.

23. The eyeglass apparatus according to claim 22 wherein at least one of said hinges includes a tang which extends outwardly from either said eyeglass frame or from an end of one temple and wherein said clevis extends outwardly from the other of said eyeglass frame or end of one temple.

24. The eyeglass apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said pivot pin portions further comprise a first end and a second end, wherein each of said first ends contains a radially extending flange.

25. The eyeglass apparatus according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said hinges includes a tang which extends outwardly from either said eyeglass frame or from an end of one temple and wherein said clevis extends outwardly from the other of said eyeglass frame or end of one temple.

26. An eyeglass apparatus, comprising an eyeglass frame, a pair of temples and a pair of hinges respectively pivotally interconnecting said eyeglass frame with said temples, a pair of eyeglass lenses mounted in said eyeglass frame and each of said eyeglass lenses comprising optical means for changing an optical characteristic of said eyeglass lenses upon receipt of an electrical signal, an electrical circuit for providing an electrical signal to at least one of said eyeglass lenses and said electrical circuit mounted to at least one of said temples, each hinge including a tang and a clevis and first and second separate, axially-aligned pivot pin portions pivotally interconnecting said tang and said clevis, at least a first and second electrical conductor interconnecting said electrical circuit with at least one of said eyeglass lenses and a first segment of said first electrical conductor extending through a conductor passageway formed in said first pivot pin portion and a first segment of said second electrical conductor extending through a conductor passageway formed in said second pivot pin portion, wherein said first electrical conductor is an electrical positive conductor for said electrical circuit, wherein at least one of said eyeglass frame and said temple associated with said electrical circuit are metal and wherein said first pivot pin portion is plastic.