Abstract:
A safety eyeglass case is provided having a mounting means for use with a power tool with an elongated central shaft. At least one (1) securing mount are each provided with apertures and securing bolts to operatively attach the case to the shaft of a worker&#39;s tool. A user then has safety eyeglasses stored with the tool for immediate disposal and access.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/833,156, filed Jun. 10, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a safety eyeglass case and accompanying mounting bracket to secure the case to a power tool and thereby stow safety glasses in a convenient manner for ready and immediate access. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The use of safety glasses or protective eyewear has increased in both work and industrial environments. They are no longer only seen at construction sites and industrial establishments throughout the country, but at homes and commercial environments as well. Their use has resulted in reduced eye injuries, and an overall improvement in safety. One (1) area in which eyewear is typically used, or should be used, is when operating a string style trimmer when performing landscaping, or yard work. The possibility of grass clippings, stones, twigs, and the like, being thrown up into the operator&#39;s eyes is very real. One (1) of the most frequently heard excuses as to why an operator will not wear safety glasses is that they cannot be found, they are lost, or they take too long to go and get them. Then, when they are found, they are broken, scratched, or otherwise damaged. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which safety glasses can be provided in more ready access to be more easily and properly utilized when operating a string style trimmer or similar power tool. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The case and mounting bracket of the present invention is a safety glasses storage case designed to mount to the shaft of a string style trimmer or similar power tool. Upon initial observation of a string-style weed trimmer equipped with the present invention, nothing appears readily different. However, after closer inspection, it can be seen that there is a safety glasses case mounted to the shaft of the weed trimmer near the shaft handle grip. The case has a hinged lid that snap locks closed and will hold one pair of safety glasses complete with side shields. The case is attached to the shaft of the trimmer using the attached mounting brackets that are sized to fit a variety of circular power tool shafts, but may also be adapted to fit other shaft shapes as well. These features ensure that safety glasses will always be readily available when beginning operation of the power tool, and provides a handy place for storage where they will not get damaged or scratched. 
         [0005]    Thus, when the present invention meets the need for a way to keep and store protective safety glasses when not using the tool, but also keeps them at ready access in an immediate location to encourage their consistent use, which results in better safety and protection for the operator. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a safety eyeglass case  20  with mounting bracket assemblies  10  affixed to a round shaft of a work tool  105  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is another isometric view of an open safety eyeglass case  20  with mounting bracket assemblies  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the bottom of the safety eyeglass case  20  depicted with an exploded view of the mounting bracket assemblies  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       [0010]      10  mounting bracket assembly 
         [0011]      20  case 
         [0012]      22  lower shell 
         [0013]      24  lower shell bottom 
         [0014]      26  lower shell side 
         [0015]      32  bracket base 
         [0016]      34  base passageway 
         [0017]      36  channel 
         [0018]      42  upper shell 
         [0019]      44  top 
         [0020]      46  upper shell side 
         [0021]      52  hinge 
         [0022]      54  interior 
         [0023]      62  lower bracket segment 
         [0024]      64  bracket passageway 
         [0025]      66  bracket aperture 
         [0026]      71  threaded fastener 
         [0027]      100  safety glasses 
         [0028]      105  work tool 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]    The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0030]    The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
         [0031]    The present invention describes a safety eyeglass case  20  with mounting bracket assemblies  10  (herein referred to as the “case”), which provides a means to attach a pair of safety glasses  100  to the round shaft of a work tool  105  so that said safety glasses  100  are available for use by the tool user. There should be sufficient space within the interior  54  of the case  20  for the additional disposition of a pair of collapsible foam earplugs. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the case  20  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The case  20  is comprised of an upper shell  42  and a lower shell  22  which are constructed preferably of a rigid thermoplastic, or other such material, as two (2) individual parts in an injection molding process. The lower shell  22  is comprised of a planar bottom  24  with a wrap-around side  26  joined along all abutting edges and formed in one (1) piece to incorporate two (2) bracket base  32  portions of the bracket assembly  10  located subjacent to said bottom  24 . Each bracket base  32  is provided with a base passageway  34  which is a hemispherical void in said bracket base  32  to conform to the cylindrical shaft of the work tool  105 . In some embodiments the bottom  24  may have contours other than a strictly planar configuration without limiting the scope of the case  20 . A plurality of threaded channels  36  in each bracket base  32  enable fastening to correspondingly joined lower bracket  62 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 , an isometric view of the case  20  in an open configuration, and  FIG. 3 , an isometric view of the bottom of the case  20 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The upper shell  42  is comprised of a contoured top  44  with a contiguous wrap-around upper side  46  formed in one (1) piece. The upper shell  42  and the lower shell  22  are attached to opposite leaves of a hinge  52  preferably by means of rivets, or other such fasteners, and form an interior  54  of sufficient volume for the storage of a pair of safety eyeglasses  100 . The hinge  52  would preferably incorporate a spring, or spring like device to hold the case  20  in a closed configuration. 
         [0034]    The lower bracket segment  62  of the bracket assemblies  10  is comprised preferably of a rigid thermoplastic, or other such material and formed with a bracket passageway  64  similar to the base passageway  34  in the bracket base  32  pieces previously discussed. When each bracket base  32  is conjoined with a corresponding lower bracket  62  the base passageway  34  and the bracket passageway  64  form a joined passageway permitting entrance of a cylindrical shaft of a work tool  105 . Disposed in the lower bracket segments  62  is a plurality of bracket apertures  66  for the purpose of installing threaded fasteners  71  to clamp the case  20  to a work tool  105 . 
         [0035]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the enabled user in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the case  20 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and utilizing the case  20  may be achieved by performing the following steps: installing the case  20  onto a work tool  105  by fitting a cylindrical shaft of said work tool  105  into the base passageways  34  of each bracket base  32 ; fitting the bracket passageway  64  of a lower bracket segment  62  onto the work tool  105  shaft opposite from a bracket base  32 ; aligning the bracket apertures  66  with the threaded channels  36 ; installing the required number of threaded fasteners  71 ; repeating the procedure to complete the installation of the remaining lower bracket segments  62 ; and inserting a user-supplied pair of safety glasses  100  into the case  20 . 
         [0036]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.