Abstract:
An eyewear bottle opener wherein a bottle opener is housed within the reinforced earpiece of the frame of the eyewear for the convenience of a person wearing the eyewear and desiring to open a bottle having a metal cap.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/744,001 filed Mar. 30, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to the fields of eyewear and bottle openers. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Eyewear, and more particularly the type referred to as eyeglasses, is well known in the prior art. Eyewear typically comprises lenses and a frame, wherein the frame positions the lenses in front of the user&#39;s eyes and has earpieces that hold the frame in place. It is well known to vary the tint of the lenses and the style and material of the frames. 
   Bottle openers are also well known in the prior art. Typically bottle openers comprise a metal lever that is inserted below a metal bottle cap that is pleated about the rim of the neck of the bottle and then rotated about the bottle cap using a point on the cap as a fulcrum on which to pivot, thus pulling the bottle cap off of the rim of the bottle. 
   This invention combines eyewear and the type of bottle opener described above. The invention provides convenience for persons wearing eyewear, or eyeglasses, that desire to open bottles. In accordance with its narrower aspects, the invention comprises eyewear having a frame manufactured so as to house a bottle opener therein. 
   In one embodiment, the bottle opener is housed within the earpiece such that the opener is accessible from the top and near the hinge at which the earpiece joins the frame. The bottle opener is made from aluminum or a similarly rigid material of the like and includes an anchor piece that anchors the bottle opener within the earpiece and provides stability when used to open bottles. The earpiece is manufactured from plastic that is molded about the aluminum bottle opener and its anchor piece. Further, the hinge which connects the earpiece to the frame is reinforced with six to ten joints to absorb the stress incurred when the bottle opener is used to open bottles. 
   The bottle opener is also housed in the earpiece such that the lever is accessible from the bottom or from the side as well as near the end which is placed about the user&#39;s ear. In another embodiment the bottle open is housed in the nosepiece of the eyewear. In another embodiment the bottle opener is attached to the ear piece of the eyewear via a magnet or other means. In yet another embodiment the bottle opener is housed within the ear piece such that it is rotatable out of the housing for use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the invention being worn by an individual; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the bottle opener is positioned to be accessed from the top of the ear piece; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the bottle opener is positioned to be accessed from the side of the ear piece; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the bottle opener is positioned to be accessed from the end of the ear piece that attached about an individual&#39;s ear; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the bottle opener is positioned to be accessed from the bottom of the ear piece; 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view, partially shown in phantom, illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a first embodiment of the eyewear bottle opener  10  being used by an individual  12 . In this embodiment the bottle opener  14  is housed within the earpiece  16  of the frame  26  near the hinge  28  of the frame  26  so that the lever  30  of the bottle opener  14  is accessible from the top  18  of the earpiece  16 . 
     FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The bottle opener  14  is shown positioned near the hinge  28 . The hinge  28  is reinforced by nine joints  32 . The hinge  32  can be reinforced by more or fewer joints as necessary. The bottle opener  14  is attached to an anchor  34 , both of which are made from aluminum in this embodiment, that adds support to the earpiece  16  that is molded thereabout when the bottle opener  14  is used for its intended purpose. The bottle opener  14  and the anchor  34  can be made of other materials, such as varying metals or alloys. Proper materials for the construction of the bottle opener  14  and the anchor  34  will be well known to those having skill in the art. In this embodiment the frame  26  is made from plastic. The frame  26  can be made from other materials, such as metal, an alloy, or a ceramic material. Proper materials for the construction of the frame  26  will be well known to those having skill in the art. 
     FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the bottle opener  14  is positioned such that the lever  30  of the bottle opener  14  is accessible from the side  20  of the earpiece  16 . The bottle opener  14  is attached to an anchor  34  in  FIG. 3  as well. 
     FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the bottle opener  14  is positioned at the end  22  of the earpiece  16 . The bottle opener  14  is shown attached to an anchor  34 . 
     FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  that is similar to the invention shown in  FIG. 2  except that the bottle opener  14  is accessible from the bottom  24  of the earpiece  16 . 
     FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the bottle opener  14  is positioned above the nosepiece  36  of the frame  26  that connects the portions of the frame  26  that hold the lenses  38 . 
     FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein a bottle opener  40  is a separate piece that is attached to the earpiece  16  of the frame  26  via a magnet  42  or other means such as hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a bottle opener  44  is housed within a housing  46  in the earpiece  16  of the frame  26  such that the bottle opener  44  may be rotated out of the housing  46  for use. 
     FIG. 9  is a perspective view, partially shown in phantom, illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a bottle opener  48  is formed at the hinge  28  of the frame  26  upon the folding of the earpiece  16 . Upon the folding of the earpiece  16 , the portion of the bottle opener  48  attached to the earpiece  16  is exposed, so as to be inserted below a bottle cap for opening. 
   Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.