Abstract:
A pair of sunglasses having interengaging surfaces of a temple portion and a lens frame portion with a groove, passageway or recess provided in or defined by at least one of the temple portion and the lens frame portion to accommodate a sliding therein of a hang tag attachment string or cord.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of sunglass or eyeglass frames which are on display for sale at a retailer and have an identifying hang tag connected by a string to the intersection between a lens frame portion and a temple portion of the frame. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Sunglasses are often displayed for retail sale on a vertical rotatable rack. Many vertical rows of sunglasses are displayed to the individual with a frame portion including the lenses facing the consumer. An identifying tag connected to the nose bridge or the intersection of a side temple and the lens frame portion includes indicia identifying the sunglasses by manufacturer, price, bar code, address of manufacturer, stock number and/or other identifying indicia. 
         [0003]    When an individual is desirous of purchasing a pair of sunglasses, the sunglasses are removed from the display rack and placed on the face of the potential purchaser. A mirror on the display rack is used to display the image of a potential purchaser wearing the sunglass product. 
         [0004]    In the instance where a hang tag is connected to the sunglasses in the area between the temple portion and the lens frame portion, it is difficult to fully extend the temple portion to its normally intended position of extension such that the sunglasses may be properly fitted on the face of the potential purchaser. This is because the string, connecting wire or other attachment piece is normally cinched into a space between the temple portion and lens frame portion such that the tag is not removable from the body of the sunglasses. 
         [0005]    A reduced width portion of the temple portion which fits into a recess in the lens frame portion of the sunglasses is normally used to hang the sales tag or indicia tag of the sunglasses. In this position, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to fully extend the temple portion into its position of normal use due to the trapping of the string or other portion connecting the hang tag to the sunglasses in the gap between the temple portion and lens frame portion. The presence of the string between the temple portion and frame portion forces the temple portion inwardly towards the opposite temple portion so that the potential consumer never can achieve a proper positioning of the temple portion into its intended position. 
         [0006]    This possibly prevents the consumer from properly fitting the sunglasses due to the forced inward angle location of the temple portion. Even if the consumer is able to force the sunglasses onto their face, the angled inwardly positioned temple portion will be uncomfortable, potentially dissuading the consumer from ultimately purchasing the sunglasses. 
         [0007]    This problem in marketing of sunglasses has been a hindrance to sales in the sunglass industry. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to have a hang tag with a connecting string positioned in the normal location between a temple portion and a lens frame portion of a pair of sunglasses without the connecting string interfering with the complete extension of the temple portion with respect to the lens frame portion. A consumer may thereby try on the pair of sunglasses without being hindered by an improper positioning of the temple portion. 
         [0009]    This object of the present invention is achieved by providing a groove, passageway or recess in at least one of an extension portion of the temple portion and the lens frame portion so as to receive the connecting string of a hang tag in a recessed orientation which does not interfere with the complete extension of the temple portion. The end edge of the temple portion is thereby able to fully engage with a mating surface (end edge) of the lens frame portion. 
         [0010]    This recess or groove is unobtrusive and does not interfere with the use of the sunglasses, even after the sunglasses are purchased and the hang tag and connecting string are removed. The security of the engagement of the hang tag on the sunglass frame is unhindered with complete extension of the temple portion with respect to the lens frame portion being achieved. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a pair of sunglasses having interengaging surfaces of a temple portion and a lens frame portion with a groove, passageway or recess provided in at least one of the temple portion and the lens frame portion to accommodate a sliding therein of a hang tag attachment string or cord. 
         [0012]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pair of sunglasses having interengaging surfaces of a temple portion and a lens frame portion with a groove, passageway or recess provided in at least one of the temple portion and the lens frame portion to accommodate a sliding therein of a hang tag attachment string or cord with the hang tag being secured to the sunglasses without interfering with the complete extension of the temple portion with respect to the lens frame portion. 
         [0013]    It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a pair of sunglasses having interengaging surfaces of a temple portion and a lens frame portion with a groove, passageway or recess provided in at least one of the temple portion and the lens frame portion to accommodate a sliding therein of a hang tag attachment string or cord with the hang tag being secured to the sunglasses without interfering with the complete extension of the temple portion with respect to the lens frame portion and the hang tag being secured to the sunglasses in both a collapsed and extended position of the temple portions with respect to the lens frame portion. 
         [0014]    These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the invention disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates the interconnection of a hang tag between a temple portion and a lens frame portion of the sunglasses of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates the pivotal positioning of the temple portion with respect to the lens frame portion and, in dotted lines, showing a complete extension of the temple portion with respect to the lens frame portion and the positioning of the string of the hang tag in a groove or recess defined, in this example, as part of the recess of the lens frame portion within which an extension of the temple portion is pivotally mounted. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the temple portion and lens frame portion and their interconnecting screw. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the portions shown in  FIG. 5  with a string of a hang tag shown slidably mounted in a groove or recess of the lens frame portion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0023]    With reference to the drawings, in general, and to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , in particular, a pair of sunglasses embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated as  10 . With reference to its orientation in  FIG. 1 , the sunglasses  10  include a lens frame portion  12  and a temple portion  14 . It is understood as being within the scope of the present invention that the invention is equally applicable to a pair of eyeglasses and that a frame of the sunglasses includes the lens frame portion  12  and two temple portions  14 . The two temple portions  14  are pivotally mounted on the lens frame portion  12 . 
         [0024]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , a hang tag  16  is connected to the sunglasses  10  by a string, cable, cord or other filamentary structure  18 . A clip  20  extends about the string  18  and is normally cinched close to the intersection of the lens frame portion and the temple portion. This secures the hang tag  16  to the sunglasses and prevents removal of the hang tag prior to purchase of the sunglasses. The string  18  is normally tied to itself to form a continuous loop. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the sunglasses  10  are formed by positioning a temple extension portion  22  of the temple portion  14  within a recess  24  of the lens frame portion  12 . A through bore  26  of the temple extension portion  22  is provided for a connecting screw  28  which extends through a bore  30  of the lens frame portion such that a head  32  of the screw is seated in a complementary shaped recess  34  of the lens frame portion. 
         [0026]    As will be seen with reference to the other drawings, when the temple extension portion  22  is fitted in the recess  24 , two gaps  34 ,  36  are formed above and below, respectively, the temple extension portion  24 . This is best shown in  FIG. 6 . Slidably mounted within the gaps or recesses  34 ,  36  is string  18  connecting the hang tag  16  to the sunglasses. Also, as shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 6 , string  18  fits in a portion of a recess behind the temple extension portion  22 , spaced from a wall of the lens frame portion  12 . 
         [0027]    This is also shown in  FIG. 2  where string portion  18   a  is moved from the position in solid lines when the temple portion  14  is bent inwardly as compared to the position shown in dotted lines where the string portion  18   a  is slidably mounted between the temple extension portion and the lens frame portion  12 . When string portion  18   a  is shown in dotted lines, the sunglasses are wearable without interference from string  18 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , an edge  40  of the temple portion  14  is able to fully engage with an edge portion  42  of the lens frame portion  12  for complete opening of the sunglass frame. The string  18  is slidably mounted in the gaps or grooves  34 ,  36  in the lens frame portion, above and below the temple portion  14  and behind the temple extension portion  22  in a portion of the gap or recess  44  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]    Thereby, by the pivoting of the temple portion  14  with respect to the lens frame portion  12  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the string  18  is accommodated in recesses or grooves defined between the temple extension portion  22  and the recess  24  of the main frame portion. The temple portion is thereby able to be fully extended so that mating surfaces of the temple portion and main frame portion  12  can fully engage for a true and accurate fitting of the sunglasses on a potential consumer. A more accurate assessment of the in use appearance of the sunglasses of the present invention is thereby achieved. 
         [0030]    The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.