Abstract:
A cover for each of the temple arms of a pair of eyeglasses to protect the temple arms from chemical contamination during the treatment and dying of hair. The covers fit loosely on the temple arms for easy installation and removal after use and are made of flexible economical material permitting disposal.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/202,556 filed May 10, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a cover for eyeglasses. More particularly, the present invention concerns a cover for eyeglass temple arms to protect the arms from corrosion.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Eyeglasses are a necessary part of the life for millions of individuals around the world. Eyeglasses are manufactured in a vast array of style, but have typically been constructed from plastic or metal coated at least in part with a plastic. However, problems often arise when plastic eyeglasses (or the plastic portions of eyeglass, e.g., the earpiece) encounter corrosive chemical materials.  
           [0004]    One environment that readily lends itself to contact between eyeglasses and corrosive chemicals is a modern hair salon or studio. Hair treatments and dyes used in the coloring of hair will often come into prolonged contact with a persons eyeglasses during the hours long process of cutting, treatment, dying and styling of hair. For example, during their time at the salon, a customer that wears eyeglasses may choose to read a magazine or watch TV. Each of these activities requires the customer to wear their eyeglasses. Therefore, during a typically salon visit, the eyeglasses, particularly the temple arm earpiece, will come into direct contact with a variety of hair treatments and dyes that will corrode or otherwise discolor the eyeglasses. Therefore, it would be advantageous for the eyeglass wearer to have a removable, disposable cover that may be worn over the eyeglasses to inhibit or prohibit contact of the eyeglasses with the hair treatment chemicals.  
           [0005]    It is important also that the cover be easily and rapidly installed and even more importantly, that the cover be easily removed after it has served its purpose without contamination of the eyeglasses from the chemicals that may adhere to the cover.  
           [0006]    Prior art structures have made an effort to cover the temple arms of eyeglass for the purpose of comfort and also for protecting the eyeglasses themselves. Unfortunately, such devices have been complex and costly and typically have used means to secure the covers firmly in position on the eyeglass frames which adds not only to the cost of manufacture but also complicates the installation and removal of the covers after they have been used and possibly contaminated. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    A clearer understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the several views wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts and wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    As seen in FIG. 1 an apparatus of the present invention comprises a cover  10  for placement over and around each one of the temple arms  14  hinged to an eyeglass or lens frame  12  at points designated at  13 .  
         [0011]    The cover  10  preferably comprises an elongated, tubular body  16  having an open end  18  and a closed end  20 . The body  16  and open end  18  are dimensioned to fit around a wide variety of temple arms  14 . Preferably, the diameter of the open end  18  of the body  16  is between 4 to 20 mm. when in tubular shape. Since the material forming the body  16  is flexible and may be of different cross-sectional configurations the perimeter or girth of the tubular cross-section is substantially uniform and between 12 mm. and 60 mm. or slightly larger than the largest girth of the temple arm  14  it is to cover. The length of the body  12  must also be sufficient to extend along the entire temple arm  14  from the earpiece  22  to the hinged end at  13 . A preferred length of the body  16  is between 10 to 16 cm. However, the body  16  may be longer or shorter and if necessary can be cut to conform to the length of the temple arm  14 . The cover  10  preferably is constructed of plastic or similar material. It also could be constructed of paper, such as crepe or wax-coated paper and like material. Alternatively, the cover  10  may be constructed of any elastic, flexible and lightweight material. The cover  10  may be disposable, but may be reusable by using materials that are more durable.  
         [0012]    Shown in FIG. 2, is an alternate embodiment of the cover  10   a  of the present invention. The cover of the alternate embodiment includes a body  16   a  having an open end  18   a  and sealed end  20   a.  The body  16   a  further comprises a bend portion  26 . Preferably, the bend  26  is positioned in spaced relation relative to a butt strap  24   a  at the opposite or hinge end  13  of the temple arm  14   a.  The bend  26  of the body  16   a  allows the cover to conform to the shape of the bent temple arm  14   a  and offers resistance to longitudinal displacement of the cover on the temple arm  14   a.    
         [0013]    In operation, a person wearing the eyeglasses removes their glasses and places the cover over the temple arms by inserting the end pieces  20 ,  20   a  in the open ends  18 ,  18   a  of the cover  10 ,  10   a  and sliding the temple arms and end pieces towards the closed end  20 ,  20   a  of the cover. The cover  10  fits loosely on the temple arms but the motion of placing the eyeglasses on the head brings the covers  10  into contact with opposite sides of the head of a user to urge the covers  10  forwardly on the temple arms  14  toward lens frame  12  to maintain the end pieces  22 ,  22   a  in position relative to closed end  20 ,  20   a,  respectively. Once in position on the head of the wearer, the wall of the cover  10  is trapped between the temple arm  14  and the wearer&#39;s head to maintain the cover&#39;s  10  in position on the temple arm  14 .  
         [0014]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the cover  16  is folded or distorted slightly at the bend  30  between the temple arm  14  and earpiece  22  which also serves to resist longitudinal displacement of the cover  10  on the temple arm  14 . Similarly, the bend  26  in the alternative embodiment in FIG. 2 acts to reset displacement of the cover body  20 . The cover protects the temple arm from direct contact with hair treatments, dyes and other corrosive chemicals throughout the salon visit. Upon completion of the salon visit, the user removes the eyeglasses and the covers from the temple arms after which the contaminated covers can be disposed of or cleaned for reuse.  
         [0015]    Having described my invention, other apparatus and embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art that do not depart from the scope or claim of the present invention.