Abstract:
A case is provided having a hingedly attached lid and at least one (1) base bracket affixed thereto. A securing mounting bracket is capable of joining to an individual base bracket via a fastening means. Each base bracket and mounting bracket create a passageway to accommodate operatively attaching the case to a support structure. A user then has safety eyeglasses stored with the tool for immediate disposal and access. A means to secure safety earplugs within the case also exists.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a Continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/072,271, filed Nov. 5, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a safety eyeglass case and accompanying mounting brackets 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 
     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 
     The case and mounting bracket of the present invention is a safety glasses storage case designed to mount to the cylindrical 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 eyeglass 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 (1) pair of safety eyeglasses complete with side shields. There also exists a means to secure a set of safety earplugs within the case as well. The case is capable of being 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. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the case has a bottom wall that has integral hemispherical-shaped base brackets, each capable of mating with a mounting bracket segment of a mounting bracket assembly, possessing a similar hemispherical shape. The arcuate mating sides of both the base brackets and mounting bracket segments are capable of conforming to an outer circumference of a cylindrical shaft of a work tool. Fasteners mate an aligned individual base bracket and mounting bracket segment pair. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, at least one (1) cylindrical receptacle is affixed within the interior of the case. Each holder is capable of retaining a conventional foam safety earplug therewithin. 
     In yet another embodiment of the invention, a first mounting bracket assembly differs from a second mounting bracket assembly in that a first mounting bracket segment is longer than the second mounting bracket segment. Such an additional length accommodates a bracket aperture, capable of either accepting another mounting means to mount the case to a different support structure, or for enabling routing of a hasp of a lock therethrough to prevent unauthorized removal of the case from the support structure. 
     Thus, when the present invention meets the need for a way to keep and store protective safety eyeglasses and safety earplugs 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 
       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: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a safety eyeglass case  20  with mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  affixed to a round shaft of a work tool  105  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an open safety eyeglass case  20  showing the interior  54  thereof, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another isometric view of an open safety eyeglass case  20  showing safety glasses  100  and safety earplugs  101  installed therein, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the bottom of the safety eyeglass case  20  depicted with an exploded view of the mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  and fasteners  71  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the safety eyeglass case  20  with the mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  installed thereon, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the safety eyeglass case  20  with the mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  installed thereon, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a right side elevation view of the safety eyeglass case  20  with the mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  installed thereon, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 8  is a left side elevation view of the safety eyeglass case  20  with the mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  installed thereon, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10   a  first mounting bracket assembly 
               10   b  second mounting bracket assembly 
               20  case 
               23  case rear wall 
               24  case bottom wall 
               26  case side wall 
               32  bracket base 
               34  base passageway 
               36  channel 
               40  lid upper wall 
               42  lid sidewall 
               43  lid rear wall 
               44  lid 
               52  hinge 
               54  interior 
               62   a  first lower bracket segment 
               62   b  second lower bracket segment 
               63  bracket aperture 
               64  bracket passageway 
               66  bracket aperture 
               71  fastener 
               80  earplug holder 
               100  safety eyeglasses 
               101  safety earplugs 
               105  shaft 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 8 . 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. 
     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. 
     The present invention describes a safety eyeglass case  20  with mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  (herein referred to as the “case”), which provides a means to retain a pair of safety eyeglasses  100  within the interior  54  of the case  20  that is mounted to the shaft  105  of a support structure such as a work tool so that said safety eyeglasses  100  are available for use by the tool user. There is also means within the interior  54  of the case  20  for the additional retention of a pair of collapsible foam safety earplugs  101 . 
     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  also includes a lid  40  generally coextensive with an upper perimeter edge of the case side wall  26 . A preferred embodiment of the case  20  and lid  40  is in a hemispherical configuration to generally match the profile of convention pair of safety eyeglasses  100  also having a general hemispherical shape. This preferred embodiment is efficient in that it minimizes the amount of wasted space in order to limit instances where the case  20 , as attached the shaft  105  of a work tool, may be snagged or otherwise impeded normal use of the work tool. 
     The lid  40  and case  20  are constructed preferably of a rigid thermoplastic, or other such material, as two (2) individual parts in an injection molding process. The case  20  includes an arcuate case sidewall  26 , a planar case rear wall  23 , and a planar case bottom wall  24  to form an interior  54  of sufficient volume for the storage of a pair of safety eyeglasses  100 . The case sidewall  26  conjoins along all abutting edges of the case rear wall  23  and case bottom wall  24 . At least one (1), and preferably a pair, of earplug holders  80  are affixed to the inner surface of the case bottom wall  24  and extend upward into the interior  54 . The holders  80  are cylindrical receptacles and are preferably located along a common centerline of the case bottom wall  24 . The preferred location of the holders  80  enable a pair of safety eyeglasses  100  can be placed in the case and not be interfered with by the holders  80 . The cylindrical receptacle shape of each holder  80  enables a convention foam safety earplug  80  to be inserted therein, wherein the deforming aspect of the foam safety earplugs  101  enable a frictional secure fit therewithin. 
     The case bottom wall  24  incorporates two (2) bracket base  32  portions in a unitary construction. The bracket base portions  32  are aligned along a common centerline of the case bottom wall  24  and are capable of mating to one (1) of the first and second mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  via a fastener  71  removably placed within a channel  36  passing through the thickness of the bracket base  32 . More than one (1) channel  36  may exist. As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , each bracket base  32  is provided with a base passageway  34  which is a hemispherical void in said bracket base  32  capable of conforming to the cylindrical shaft  105  of the work tool. In some embodiments the case bottom wall  24  may have contours other than a strictly planar configuration without limiting the scope of the case  20 . 
     The lid  40  is much thinner than the case  20 , yet generally has a coextensive shape thereof. The lid  40  includes an arcuate lid sidewall  42 , a planar lid rear wall  43 , and a planar lid upper wall  44 . The lid sidewall  42  conjoins along all abutting edges of the lid rear wall  43  and lid upper wall  44 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , isometric views of the case  20  in an open configuration both empty and filled with commonly used safety equipment, such as safety eyeglasses  100  and safety earplugs  101 , is disclosed. The lid rear wall  43  and the case rear wall  23  are attached to opposite leaves of a hinge  52  preferably by means of rivets, or other such fasteners, in order to enable the lid  40  to be hingedly attached to the case  20 . The lid  40 , when fully closed against the case  20 , fully covers the interior  54  of the case  20 . The hinge  52  would preferably incorporate a spring, or spring like device to hold the case  20  in a closed configuration. 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the lower bracket segments  62   a ,  62   b  of the bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  are each 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   a ,  62   b  the base passageway  34  and the bracket passageway  64  form a joined passageway permitting entrance of a cylindrical shaft  105  of a work tool. Disposed in the lower bracket segments  62   a ,  62   b  is at least one (1) bracket aperture  66 , which, when aligned with an individual channel  36  of the base brackets  32 , fasteners  71  can then clamp the case  20  to a shaft  105  of a work tool. 
     A preferred embodiment includes a first mounting bracket assembly  10   a  and a second mounting bracket assembly  102 . The first mounting bracket assembly  10   a  differs from the second mounting bracket assembly  109   b  in that the first lower bracket segment  62   a  has a greater length than the second lower bracket segment  62   b  in order to accommodate a bracket aperture  63 . The bracket aperture  63  is a passthrough channel that is capable of enabling the case  20 , when attached to the first mounting means assembly  10   a  and via an external mounting means, to another location instead of a cylindrical shaft  105 . The bracket aperture  63  also enables the hasp of a lock to be routed through to provide a secure locking means for the case  20  to the cylindrical shaft  105 . 
       FIGS. 5 through 8  illustrate various views of the safety eyeglass case  20  with the mounting bracket assemblies  10   a ,  10   b  installed thereon, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     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 shaft  105  of a work tool by fitting the shaft  105  into the base passageways  34  of each bracket base  32 ; fitting the bracket passageway  64  of the lower bracket segments  62   a ,  62   b  onto the shaft  105  opposite from the bracket bases  32 ; aligning the bracket apertures  66  with the channels  36 ; installing the required number of fasteners  71 ; repeating the procedure to complete the installation of the remaining lower bracket segments  62 ; and inserting a user-supplied pair of safety eyeglasses  100  into the case  20 . Also, a pair of safety earplugs  101  can be secured within the holder  80  located in the interior  54  of the case  20  as desired. 
     Alternately, the bracket aperture  63  can be used to mount the case  20  to a different location than the shaft  105  of a work tool, or be utilized to rout a hasp of a locking device in order to prevent unauthorized removal of the case  20  from the shaft  105  of the work tool. 
     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.