Abstract:
An eyeglass holder comprising a clip attachable to a visor of a headwear, a fastening element extending from the clip, the fastening element being adapted to fixedly hold a pair of eyeglasses.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to devices for holding eyeglasses, and particularly to an eyeglass holder attachable to headwear, such as hats or caps. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Eyeglass holders that may be attached to a hat or cap are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,048 to Jones describes a frame, which may be worn under a hat with a provision for mounting a pair of eyeglasses such that the eyeglasses do not rest on the bridge of the nose or on the ears. The eyeglasses may be moved in one of three mutually perpendicular directions—up and down, sideways and back and forth with respect to the user&#39;s face. The eyeglasses may be pivoted up and down as well. 
   However, Jones suffers from several disadvantages. The frame attaches to and fits under the head liner of the hat and touches the forehead of the user. The contact of the frame with the user&#39;s skin may be uncomfortable, and particularly on hot days, sweaty. The hat must be removed from the user&#39;s head in order to adjust or remove the frame. The eyeglasses attach to the frame in a pivotal manner. This may cause the eyeglasses to swivel during use, thereby moving them out of focus. Indeed, the three-dimensional linear adjustments may move during routine walking, and become a nuisance to the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention seeks to provide a novel eyeglass holder for headwear, which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art. 
   The eyeglass holder of the present invention may comprise a clip that snugly attaches to the visor of a cap or other headwear. A fastening element may extend from the clip, and may be moved with respect to the clip in a variety of manners, such as in linear or pivoted movement, as is described in detail hereinbelow. The eyeglass holder may further comprise hardware for purposes of identification, advertising, games, amusement, etc. Further advantages include, but are not limited to, fewer parts, thereby substantially reducing manufacturing costs, and very compact design, a particular advantage for storing and carrying. 
   There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an eyeglass holder comprising a clip attachable to a visor of a headwear, a fastening element extending from the clip, the fastening element being adapted to fixedly hold a pair of eyeglasses. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the fastening element may be slidable and/or pivotable with respect to the clip, e.g., towards and away from a face of a wearer of the headwear. 
   Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an intermediate attachment element is slidingly attached to the clip, the fastening element being pivotally attached to the intermediate attachment element. 
   Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the fastening element comprises a gripping element adapted to fixedly hold a pair of eyeglasses, the gripping element being slidably mounted on the fastening element. The gripping element may be slidable upwards and downwards with respect to a wearer of the headwear. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the clip comprises friction enhancers for enhancing friction between the clip and a visor of a headwear. 
   Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a mounting stud may be removably attached to the clip, and a flag may be attached to the mounting stud. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified pictorial illustration of an eyeglass holder, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and attached to a visor of headwear; 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified pictorial illustration showing further features of the eyeglass holder of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 3  is a simplified pictorial illustration showing an eyeglass holder constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, having a differently shaped gripping element that grips a pair of eyeglasses. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which illustrate an eyeglass holder  10 , constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Eyeglass holder  10  may comprise a clip  12  which may be attached to a visor  14  of a headwear  16  (FIG.  1 ), such as but not limited to, a cap. Clip  12  may be constructed of a pair of flexible and resilient upper and lower tongues  18  and  20 , respectively (FIG.  2 ), which may be molded as a single part. Clip  12  may comprise friction enhancers  22  (FIG.  2 ), such as but not limited to, teeth or rough protrusions, for enhancing friction between clip  12  and visor  14 . 
   A fastening element  24  may extend from clip  12 . Fastening element  24  may be moved with respect to clip  12  in a variety of manners. In the illustrated embodiment, an intermediate attachment element  26  is slidingly attached to clip  12 , and fastening element  24  is pivotally attached to intermediate attachment element  26 . Intermediate attachment element  26  may slide along a groove, channel or rail  28  formed in lower tongue  20 . Fastening element  24  may be pivotably attached to intermediate attachment element  26  by means of a resilient hinge  30 . Thus, fastening element  24  may be moved along an axis  32 , towards and away from a face of a wearer (not shown) of headwear  16 . Fastening element  24  may be pivoted about an axis  34  towards and away from the underside of visor  14 , as indicated by arrows  35 . 
   Fastening element  24  may comprise a gripping element  36 , which may fixedly hold a pair of eyeglasses  38 . Gripping element  36  may grip a central portion of eyeglasses  38 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 3  shows an alternative construction for gripping element  36 , which grips a wider portion of eyeglasses  38 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , gripping element  36  may be used with flexible lenses or flexible eyeglasses, wherein the lens or eyeglass takes on the curvature of the relatively rigid gripping element  36  (that is, gripping element  36  may impart a curvature to a portion of the eyeglass). It is appreciated that many other arbitrary shapes and sizes of gripping element  36  may be constructed within the scope of the invention. Gripping element  36  may be slidably mounted on a groove channel or rail  40  formed in fastening element  24 , such that gripping element  36  is slidable upwards and downwards, as indicated by arrows  42 . 
   Eyeglass holder  10  may further comprise hardware for purposes of identification, advertising, games, amusement, etc. For example, a mounting stud  44  may be provided on upper tongue  18  of clip  12 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , mounting stud may be removably attached to clip  12 , such as by snapping into a mounting hole  45 . A flag  46  (FIG.  1 ), or other item for identification, advertising, games, amusement, etc., may be attached to mounting stud  44 . 
   It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims that follow: