Abstract:
Protective eyewear cover that may be folded into or onto itself when removed from the eyewear, resulting in a profile that is slightly thicker than and slightly larger than the size of a single lens of the eyewear. The protective eyewear cover of the present invention is compact in comparison to certain conventional eyewear protection, such as a hard or semi-hard eyeglass case, yet offers maximum protection in comparison to other conventional eyewear protection, such as eyeglass bags or pouches.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to eyewear. More particularly, the present invention relates to protective covering for eyewear. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Presently, when a consumer purchases eyewear, such as prescription glasses, sunglasses or any other type of eyeglasses, the consumer basically has but two options with respect to protecting the eyewear from scratches and other types of damage. The first option is the hard case (or semi-hard case). This first option gives the consumer the greatest level of protection because the case completely encloses the eyewear. Hard cases are typically clam shell type cases or zippered type cases. Both of these hard cases work very well when it comes to protecting the eyewear. However, many consumers dislike hard cases because they are bulky, they take up a fair amount of space and they do not comfortably or easily fit in pockets. The second option is the bag (or pouch). The bag does have certain advantages. For instance, the fabric may be used to clean the eyewear lenses and it is very light in weight, not particularly bulky and, therefore, easy carry. Despite these advantages, this second option offers minimal protection because the eyewear lenses are still susceptible to being broken, scratched or otherwise damaged if dropped, placed next to a sharp or hard object, or stepped upon, as the bag is made from very fine fabric. 
     For the above-stated reasons, consumers that do not carry or otherwise use a purse or carry-bag tend to avoid using hard cases altogether, so the hard case remains in the car, in the office or at home. The bag, while easy to carry, is also easy to misplace, as it is just fabric. Consequently, many consumers simply use no protection for their eyewear. The problem, of course, is without protection, there is a much greater risk of doing damage to the eyewear, and eyewear can be very expensive to repair or replace. Consumers that regularly wear eyeglasses know that even a small scratch on a lens can be very annoying and uncomfortable to see through. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for eyewear protection that provides good protection without suffering the disadvantages associated with the hard case and bag type eyewear protection described above. As explained herein below, the compact eyewear protective cover of the present invention satisfies this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides maximum protection for eyewear without the aforementioned and other deficiencies associated with conventional eyewear protection. Moreover, the present invention is fun to use. 
     In general, the protective eyewear cover, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, takes advantage of the symmetry and/or contour (i.e., curvature) associated with most eyeglasses. When removed from the eyeglasses, the protective cover may be folded into itself, resulting in a profile that is only slightly thicker than and only slightly larger than the size of a single lens of the eyeglasses it is intended to protect. Thus, the protective cover of the present invention is compact in comparison to conventional eyewear protection; as such, consumers should find the protective cover of the present invention easier and more convenient to carry, while still getting maximum protection for the eyeglasses. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned purposes are achieved by a compact protective cover for eyewear. The cover comprises a first sleeve configured to receive at least a first lens associated with the eyewear and a second sleeve configured to receive at least a second lens associated with the eyewear. The protective cover also comprises an attachment mechanism connecting the first sleeve and the second sleeve such that the first sleeve and the second sleeve are capable of being moved, relative to each other, between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the first sleeve and the second sleeve are positioned side-by-side and in the collapsed configuration, the first sleeve and the second sleeve are overlapping or substantially overlapping. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned purposes are achieved by a compact protective cover for eyewear. The cover comprises a first sleeve that, in turn, comprises a front pad and a rear pad, the first sleeve being configured to receive at least a first lens associated with the eyewear between its front pad and rear pad. the cover also comprises a second sleeve that, in turn, comprises a front pad and a rear pad, the second sleeve being configured to receive at least a second lens associated with the eyewear between its front pad and rear pad. Still further, the cover comprises an attachment mechanism connecting the first sleeve and the second sleeve such that the first sleeve and the second sleeve are capable of being moved, relative to each other, between a deployed configuration and a closed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the first sleeve and the second sleeve are positioned side-by-side. In the collapsed configuration, the first sleeve and the second sleeve are overlapping or substantially overlapping. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Several figures are provided herein to further the explanation of the present invention. More specifically: 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  illustrate a protective cover in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2B  illustrate the contour and spacing associated with the sleeves of the protective cover in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an front and rear view of a protective cover, in accordance with an alternative to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate a protective cover, in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate a protective cover, in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate a protective cover, in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate a protective cover, in accordance with an alternative to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 8A-8E  illustrate a protective cover, in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate a protective cover, in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a protective cover, in accordance with a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary. The descriptions herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is governed by the scope of the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1A  is an illustration of a protective cover  100  in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  also illustrates a pair of eyeglasses to assist in the description and understanding of the protective cover  100 . As shown, the protective cover  100  comprises a first sleeve  105  and a second sleeve  110 . Both the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  comprise a front and a rear pad. Thus, the first sleeve  105  has a front pad  105 A and a rear pad  105 B. Likewise, the second sleeve  110  has a front pad  110 A and a rear pad  110 B. The front and rear pads  105 A and  105 B of the first sleeve  105  are attached to each other by a pad connecting portion  105 C, while the front and rear pads  110 A and  110 B of the second sleeve  110  are attached to each other by a pad connecting portion  110 C. 
     In the first exemplary embodiment, the first sleeve  105  and a second sleeve  110  are rotatably attached to each other. As shown in  FIG. 1A , the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  are rotatably attached at a point where the rear pad  105 B and the rear pad  110 B overlap each other. In this first exemplary embodiment, the attachment mechanism  115  may be a pin, a post, a rivet or any other like component in conjunction with a receiving component, such as a receiving hole(s), so long as the attachment mechanism  115  allows the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  to snap together or otherwise interlock and rotate relative to each other, as illustrated by vector R in  FIG. 1B . As will be evident from other exemplary embodiments described below, the attachment mechanism may allow the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  to collapse into each other in ways other than rotation. 
       FIG. 1A  further illustrates that the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  have a contour C to accommodate the curvature of the eyeglasses, or more specifically, the curvature of the lenses and, depending upon the eyeglasses, the curvature of the frame around the lenses. It will be understood that the protective cover  100  could be manufactured so that the contour C is customized to accommodate a specific pair eyeglasses, such as designer eyeglasses, or it could be manufactured so that the contour C is somewhat generic, to match the average curvature of most ordinary eyeglasses. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the spacing between the upper edges of the front and rear pads and the spacing between the lower edges of the front and rear pads will differ in order to anchor the protective cover  100  to the eyeglasses. Thus, for example, the spacing X between the front and rear pads in  FIG. 1A , and illustrated in  FIG. 2B , may be less than the spacing Y between the front and rear pads. Consequently, when the eyeglasses are inserted between the front and rear pads, as illustrated by arrow I in  FIG. 1A , such that the bottom of the frame associated with the eyeglasses rests on the pad connection portions  105 C and  110 C, the spacing X is such that the corresponding edges of the front and rear pads contact the eyeglasses under a slight clamping pressure sufficient to anchor the protective cover  100  in place. However, the spacing X is not so narrow that inserting the eyeglasses between the front and rear pads, and removing the eyeglasses from between the front and rear pads requires any significant force or effort. The spacing Y is such that there is minimal contact between the protective cover  100  and the eyeglasses in order to avoid wear. Additionally, the size or area of the front and rear pads are such that the lenses are completely covered, or at least substantially covered by the front and rear pads. 
       FIG. 2A  is a cut-away view of the first sleeve  105  in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 2A  more clearly illustrates the contour C described above.  FIG. 2B  is a cross-section view of the first sleeve  105  illustrated in  FIG. 2A , and it more clearly illustrates the difference in the spacing X and Y, also described above, which produces the slight clamping force or pressure that anchors the protective cover  100  to the eyeglasses with minimal contact. As will become evident from the description that follows, all but one of the exemplary embodiments exhibit some contour or degree of curvature, but for the very last embodiment. The purpose of describing the last embodiment as exhibiting little or no contour is to clarify that the scope of the invention is not limited by the contour, that is, the amount of curvature exhibited by the protective cover, even though a protective cover in accordance with a preferred embodiment will exhibit at least some contour. As such, a protective cover according to the present invention may have no contour, a small amount of contour or a significant amount of contour, depending on the eyeglasses the protective cover is intended to protect. 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  also illustrate the operation of the protective cover  100 . Thus, for example,  FIG. 1A  illustrates the protective cover  100  in a deployed configuration where the protective cover  100  is open and the first and second sleeves  105  and  110  are generally positioned side-to-side relative to each other.  FIG. 1C  illustrates a collapsed configuration where the protective cover  100  is closed and the first and second sleeves  105  and  110  are interleaved and, therefore, overlapping, or substantially overlapping. And,  FIG. 1B  illustrates a configuration where the protective cover  100  is somewhere between the deployed and closed configurations. 
     It should be evident from the figures that the protective cover  100  moves between the deployed configuration and the collapsed configuration by rotating the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  relative to each other. This is also made possible by the fact that the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  are generally symmetric and slightly offset relative to each other in a front to back direction. Therefore, when the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  are completely folded in on themselves, the front and rear pads of the first sleeve  105  and the second sleeve  110  are interleaved, as mentioned above. When the protective cover  100  is in this collapsed configuration, it is clear, from  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C, that the profile of the protective cover  100  is, as stated above, only slightly larger than one of the lens associated with the eyeglasses depicted in  FIG. 1A . 
     The protective cover  100  may be manufactured in accordance with known techniques and materials. For example, the protective cover  100  may be manufactured by injection molding, layered printing, stamped or any other suitable process. Additionally, the protective cover  100  may be made of any hard and/or durable material, lined with a soft or padded fabric on the inside to protect the lenses. Whether the protective cover  100  is made of plastic or metal, the first and second sleeves  105  and  110  are to be sufficiently pliable so they can be spread open to allow the lenses and, if applicable, the frame to pass through. Moreover, it will be understood that each of the sleeves  105  and  110  may be manufactured as a single, monolithic unit or as multiple components (e.g., as a front pad, a rear pad and a pad connection portion) that are subsequently attached to each other by a suitable method. It will also be understood that the attachment mechanism  115  may be a component(s) that is/are manufactured separate and apart from the sleeves, or manufactured as an integral part of a sleeve. For example, if the attachment mechanism  115  is in the form of a post and receiving hole, as mentioned above, the post and hole may be integral parts of and, thus, manufactured as part of the corresponding sleeves. 
     Although the protective cover  100  comprises an attachment mechanism  115  that attaches the rear pad  105 B and the rear pad  110 B where the two overlap, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art of eyewear that the attachment mechanism could, in contrast, attach the two front pads in a similar fashion. Thus,  FIG. 3  illustrates a front and rear view of protective cover  300 , in accordance with an alternative to the first exemplary embodiment, wherein protective cover  300  comprises a first sleeve  305  and a second sleeve  310 , and wherein the front pad  305 A of the first sleeve  305  is attached to the front pad  310 A of the second sleeve  310  by an attachment mechanism  315 , in the same or similar manner described above and illustrated in  FIG. 1A . One reason for this alternative embodiment is to better accommodate the bridge and/or nose pads of the eyeglasses. For example, if the eyeglasses have nose pads, and the nose pads protrude forward, or primarily forward, it may be advantageous to attach the rear pad of the first sleeve to the rear pad of the second sleeve, thus allowing the nose pads to protrude into or through the space between the front pads, as illustrated in  FIG. 1A . However, if the nose pads protrude rearward, or primarily rearward, it may be advantageous to attach the front pad of the first sleeve to the front pad of the second sleeve thus allowing the nose pads to protrude into or through a similar space that would exist between the rear pads, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  also illustrates that the present invention is not limited to a protective covering that slides in an upward direction relative to and over the lenses of the eyewear, as depicted in  FIG. 1A . In  FIG. 3 , the protective cover  300  actually slides in a downward direction relative to and over the lenses of the eyewear. 
     Additionally, in  FIG. 3 , the rear pads  305 B and  310 B are shown as comprising a cut-out or notched corner  320 . The purpose for these would be to allow for more space to accommodate the bridge of the eyeglasses. While these cut-out or notched features are only illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it will be appreciated that such features may be applied to any one of the embodiments described herein. 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate a protective cover  400 , in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment. In this second exemplary embodiment, a first sleeve  405  is rotationally attached to a second sleeve  410 , similar to the first exemplary embodiment described above, but for the attachment mechanism  415  is a spring mechanism. As shown, the spring mechanism  415  is anchored to the first sleeve  405  at point B and to the second sleeve  410  at point A. It will be understood from the discussion above that point A and B could be on either the front pads or the rear pads of the first and second sleeves  405  and  410 . Additionally, the spring mechanism  415  is wound around a pivot point P, common to both the first and second sleeves  405  and  410 , that may involve a pin, a post or some other like component. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  also illustrate the operation of the protective cover  400 . More specifically,  FIG. 4A  illustrates a deployed configuration where the protective cover  400  is open, the first and second sleeves  405  and  410  are generally positioned side-to-side relative to each other, and the spring mechanism  415  is under minimal tension.  FIG. 4C  illustrates a collapsed configuration where the protective cover  400  is closed, the first and second sleeves  405  and  410  are overlapping, or substantially overlapping, and the spring mechanism  415  is under maximum tension. And,  FIG. 4B  illustrates a configuration where the protective cover  400  is somewhere between the deployed and closed configurations. Although it is not shown, the present invention may include a lock and release mechanism in conjunction with the spring mechanism  415 , where the lock and release mechanism would hold the spring mechanism  415  in the position illustrated in  FIG. 4C  and, when activated, release the spring mechanism  415  from the position illustrated in  FIG. 4C , so as to automatically deploy the protective cover  400 .  FIG. 4D  illustrates a side view corresponding to the position of the protective cover  400  in  FIG. 4A . 
       FIGS. 5A-5E  illustrate a protective cover  500 , in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Generally,  FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate an exploded view of the protective cover  500 , whereas  FIGS. 5C and 5D  illustrate a front and rear view of the protective cover  500 , respectively, of the protective cover  500  in a deployed configuration, and  FIG. 5E  illustrates a rear view of the protective cover  500  in a collapsed configuration. 
     As shown, protective cover  500  comprises a first sleeve  505  and a second sleeve  510 . Also, as shown, the first sleeve  505  comprises a front pad  505 A and a rear pad  505 B. Likewise, the second sleeve  510  comprises a front pad  510 A and a rear pad  510 B. Unlike the first and second exemplary embodiments described above, the first sleeve  505  and the second sleeve  510  are not rotatably attached. Instead, attachment mechanism  515  slidably attaches the first sleeve  505  and the second sleeve  510 . In this example, the attachment mechanism  515  comprises a rail  515 A and a track  515 B, where the track  515 B is configured to receive the rail  515 A, such that the rail  515 A can slide along track  515 B between a deployed configuration, where the protective cover  500  is open and the first and second sleeves  505  and  510  are generally positioned side-by-side relative to each other, and a collapsed configuration, wherein the protective cover  500  is closed and the first and second sleeves  505  and  510  are in an overlapping or substantially overlapping position relative to each other. 
     To prevent the first sleeve  505  and the second sleeve  510  from becoming detached, the track  515 B may include a stopping mechanism(s) (not shown). The stopping mechanism(s) would prevent the movement of the rail  515 A from deploying beyond a point that might cause the first sleeve  505  and the second sleeve  510  to detach (similar to the stopping mechanisms used to prevent drawers from sliding out of a cabinet). 
     Further, each of the first and second sleeves  505  and  510  comprises a locking mechanism  520  and  525 , respectively. When the protective cover  500  is in the collapsed configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 5C , the protective cover  500  may be held in this configuration by the insertion of locking mechanism  525  through locking mechanism  520 . When the consumer wishes to deploy the protective cover  500 , the consumer would push on the locking mechanism  520 , thereby unlocking the first and second sleeves. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A , the protective cover  500  may also comprise a spring  530 . The spring may be located on the inner portion of the first sleeve  505 , above the track  515 A. When the protective cover  500  is in the collapsed configuration, the spring  530  would be compressed. When the protective cover  500  is in the deployed configuration, the spring  530  would be at rest. It will be understood, the spring  530  may be employed alone or in conjunction with the aforementioned locking mechanisms  520  and  525  to apply a separating force on the first and second sleeves  505  and  510 , so as to automatically deploy the protective cover  500 , when the consumer unlocks the sleeves. It will be understood that the specific design of the locking mechanism(s) and/or spring may vary without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. 
     It will also be understood that while this third exemplary embodiment may be spring-loaded, as described above, other forms of deploying and collapsing the protective cover  500  are possible. For example, protective cover  500  may be deployed and collapsed by a purely manual process, where the consumer simply grasps both the first and second sleeves  505  and  510  and gently moves them together or apart. Another possibility is that the protective cover  500  may comprise a slide button or tab, similar to a drywall knife, where the consumer moves the tab in one direction or the other, thereby moving the first and second sleeves  505  and  510  together or apart relative to each other. 
     To minimize the overall thickness of the protective cover  500 , the thickness of the first sleeve  505 , which comprises rail  515 A, is greater than the thickness of the second sleeve  510 , which comprises track  515 B. As such, the second sleeve  510  will be contained between the front and rear pads  505 A and  505 B of the first sleeve  505  (interleaved) when the protective cover  500  is in the collapsed configuration. 
     Despite the fact that the protective cover  500  employs a different attachment mechanism than protective covers  100  and  400  described above, protective cover  500  does share certain common features with the protective covers  100  and  400 . For example, the protective cover  500  has a contour C, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 C and  5 D, that matches or substantially matches the contour of the eyeglasses it is intended to protect. Also, the spaces X and X 1 , illustrated in  FIG. 5B , between the lower portions of the first and second sleeves  505  and  510  are narrower than the spaces Y and Y 1 , between the upper portions of the first and second sleeves  505  and  510 , respectively. Again, the purpose of this is to create a slight clamping pressure on the eyeglasses so that the protective cover  500  is anchored to the eyeglasses, but only so much so that the eyeglasses can be easily inserted into and easily removed from the protective cover  500 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a protective cover  600 , in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, protective cover  600  comprises a first sleeve  605  and a second sleeve  610 . Also, as shown, the first sleeve  605  comprises a front pad  605 A and a rear pad  605 B. Likewise, the second sleeve  610  comprises a front pad  610 A and a rear pad  610 B. In this exemplary embodiment, the attachment mechanism comprises a fixed, thin strip of metal  615 , which acts as both a connecting device as well as a spring to rotate the first and second sleeves  605  and  610  from a collapsed configuration (not shown) to a deployed configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 6A , where in the deployed configuration, the protective cover  600  is open and the first and second sleeves  605  and  610  are generally positioned side-by-side, whereas in the closed configuration, the protective cover  600  is closed and the first and second sleeves  605  and  610  are interleaved and overlapping or substantially overlapping each other. More specifically, due to the nature of the metal strip  615 , as well as the relative size and positioning of the first and second sleeves  605  and  610 , the first and second sleeves  605  and  610  can be rotated into each other, such that the metal strip  615  bends, and naturally remains in a bent position, while the first and second sleeves  605  and  610  are interleaved in the closed or collapsed configuration (not shown). When the consumer applies an opening force to the sleeves, the metal strip  615  springs back to its linear state so that the first and second sleeves  605  and  610  are in an open or deployed configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 6A . 
     The protection cover  600 , like the protection cover  500 , shares certain common features with the protection covers  100  and  400 , described above. Namely, the protection cover  600  has a contour C that matches or substantially matches the contour of the eyeglasses it is intended to protect. Also, as previously explained, the space X, between the lower portions of the first and second sleeves  605  and  610  are narrower than the space Y, between the upper portions of the first and second sleeves  605  and  610 , respectively. This best depicted in  FIG. 6B , which illustrates a cross-section view of either the first sleeve  605  or the second sleeve  610 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a protective cover  700 , in accordance with an alternative to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As with each of the prior embodiments, the protective cover  700  comprises a first sleeve  705 , a second sleeve  710 , where the first sleeve  705  comprises a front pad  705 A and a rear pad  705 B and the second sleeve  710  comprises a front pad  710 A and a rear pad  710 B. However, in accordance with this alternative embodiment, the metal strip  715  is not fully fixed, as shown. More particularly, either or both ends of the metal strip  715  may be slidably attached to the corresponding sleeve. In  FIG. 7A , the metal strip  715  is slidably attached at both ends. Because the metal strip  715  is slidably attached, the consumer can adjust the separation space between the first sleeve  705  and the second sleeve  710 . This may be beneficial if the consumer wishes to use the protective cover  700  with more than one pair of eyeglasses, where the eyeglasses are different in size and have a different degree of separation between their respective lenses.  FIG. 7B  illustrates a top view of the protective cover  700  in  FIG. 7A . 
     Herein below, three additional exemplary embodiments are described. These three additional exemplary embodiments differ from the aforementioned exemplary embodiments in that the first and second sleeves are not interleaved when the protective cover is in a collapsed configuration. It will be understood, however, that it is certainly within the scope of the present invention to arrange these additional exemplary embodiments so that the first and second sleeves are, in fact, interleaved when the protective cover is a collapsed configuration. Moreover, two of the three additional exemplary embodiments exhibit a contour C that matches or substantially matches the eyeglasses they are intended to protect, as with the each of the previously described exemplary embodiments. However, the third additional exemplary embodiment exhibits no contour. Again, it will be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention to arrange this third additional exemplary embodiment so that the protective cover does, in fact, exhibit a contour. 
       FIGS. 8A-8E  thus illustrate a protective cover  800 , in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the protective cover  800  comprises a first sleeve  805  and a second sleeve  810 , wherein the first sleeve  805  comprises a front pad  805 A and a rear pad  805 B, while the second sleeve  810  comprises a front pad  810 A and a rear pad  810 B. In this fifth exemplary embodiment, the attachment mechanism is in the form of a ball and socket  815 . As shown, one sleeve, e.g., the second sleeve  810 , comprises the ball portion  815 A, and the other sleeve, e.g., the first sleeve  805 , comprises the socket portion  815 B. More specifically, in  FIGS. 8A-8E , the front pad  810 A of the second sleeve  810  comprises the ball portion  815 A and the front pad  805 A of the first sleeve  805  comprises the socket portion  815 B. However, it will be understood that the ball portion  815 A and the socket portion  815 B could alternatively be arranged on the rear pads  810 B and  805 B. 
       FIGS. 8A-8D  also illustrate the operation of the protective cover  800 . Thus,  FIG. 8A  illustrates the protective cover  800  in a deployed configuration, where the first and second sleeves  805  and  810  are open and generally positioned side-by-side.  FIG. 8D  illustrates the protective cover  800  in a collapsed configuration, where the first and second sleeves  805  and  810  are closed in stacked arrangement, and overlapping or substantially overlapping each other. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8B-8D , the consumer may rotate the first and second sleeves  805  and  810  relative to each other so that the socket, in turn, rotates around the ball. In this exemplary embodiment, the consumer continues to rotate the first and second sleeves  805  and  810  until one of the sleeves has been rotated 180 degrees relative to the other sleeve, as illustrated by vector R 1  (90 degrees) and R 2  (180 degrees) in  FIGS. 8B and 8C . At this point, the consumer may then fold the first and second sleeves onto each other so they are in the aforementioned stacked arrangement, as illustrated in  FIG. 8D .  FIG. 8E  is a top view of protective cover  800  in the collapsed configuration. To deploy the protective cover  800 , the consumer may reverse the steps illustrated in  FIGS. 8B-8D . 
       FIGS. 9A-9C  thus illustrate a protective cover  900 , in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the protective cover  900  comprises a first sleeve  905  and a second sleeve  910 , wherein the first sleeve  905  comprises a front pad  905 A and a rear pad  905 B, while the second sleeve  910  comprises a front pad  910 A and a rear pad  910 B. In this sixth exemplary embodiment, the attachment mechanism is in the form of a double ball and socket  915 . In this exemplary embodiment, the consumer may fold the first and second sleeves back on each other in a “clam shell” configuration, as illustrated by vector R 3  and R 4  in  FIG. 9B .  FIGS. 9B and 9C  are top and side views, respectively, of protective cover  900  in a collapsed configuration, wherein the protective cover  900  is closed in a “clam shell” arrangement. To deploy the protective cover  900 , the consumer may apply a small amount of force in a direction opposite that of vectors R 3  and R 4 .  FIG. 9A  illustrates the protective cover  900  in the deployed configuration, where the protective cover  900  is open and the first and second sleeves  905  and  910  are generally positioned side-by-side relative to each other. 
     This sixth exemplary embodiment may additionally employ a spring (not shown). The spring may work in conjunction with the attachment mechanism  915 , where the spring would, upon activation by the consumer, automatically open or assist in opening the protective cover  900  to its deployed configuration. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate a protective cover  1000 , in accordance with a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the protective cover  1000  comprises a first sleeve  1005  and a second sleeve  1010 , wherein the first sleeve  1005  comprises a front pad  1005 A and a rear pad  1005 B, while the second sleeve  1010  comprises a front pad  1010 A and a rear pad  1010 B. In this seventh exemplary embodiment, the attachment mechanism is in the form of a hinge  1015 . 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  also illustrate the operation of the protective cover  1000 . Thus,  FIG. 10A  illustrates the protective cover  1000  in a deployed configuration, where the first and second sleeves  1005  and  1010  are open and generally positioned side-by-side.  FIG. 10B  illustrates the protective cover  1000  in a collapsed configuration, where the first and second sleeves  1005  and  1010  are closed in flat stack arrangement, and overlapping or substantially overlapping each other. 
     More specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, the consumer may fold the first and second sleeves  1005  and  1010  forward on each other so they are in the aforementioned flat stack arrangement, as illustrated by vector R 5  and R 6  in  FIG. 10B .  FIG. 10  is a top view of protective cover  1000  in the collapsed configuration. To deploy the protective cover  1000 , the consumer may apply a small amount of force in a direction opposite that of vectors R 5  and R 6 . This exemplary embodiment may additionally employ a spring (not shown) to work in conjunction with the attachment mechanism  1015 , where the spring would, upon activation by the consumer, automatically deploy or assist in deploying the protective cover  1000  to its open configuration, which is illustrated in  FIG. 10A . 
     As mentioned above, protective cover  1000 , in accordance with the seventh exemplary embodiment, exhibits little or no contour. The reason for this is that some eyeglasses, e.g., aviator eyeglasses, often exhibit little or no contour. However, it will be understood that the it is within the scope of the present invention for the protective cover  1000  to exhibit contour. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of various exemplary embodiments. It will be understood that the certain modifications and variations of the various features are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.