Eyewear holder for shorts, bathing suits and the like

Apparatus for the retention of eyewear on apparel such as, for example, pants and shirt pockets is disclosed, which includes a fixed loop made of a flexible material. This loop is affixed, preferably, to a top horizontal edge of a pocket or to an upper edge of a waistband of pants, shorts, swimwear, etc. The apparatus of the invention further includes a strap, which is preferably at a lower point on the outer side of a garment. The front end of the strap is preferably attached to the lower point of the permanently affixed loop. The second end of the strap is free, or unattached, and includes on, at least, one side a complementary mating element. An attachment element on the free end of this strap is attachable to the complementary attachment element located on the inner side of the garment; the inner side of the garment being the side opposite to which the user's eyewear is held. Further embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates, generally, to an eyewear holder for shorts, 
bathing suits and other apparel. 
More particularly, the present invention relates to an eyewear holder for 
clothing items which includes a holding strap which is folded over an item 
to be held, such as eyewear. The item to be held in place is further 
secured by an underlying loop holding system which acts to minimize 
horizontal rotational movement of, for example, the eyeglasses being held. 
This further loop acts by independently holding one or both of the temple 
pieces of the eyewear. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Prior to the present invention, the art has generally included accessory 
holders, such as those disclosed by the inventor's prior patents, i.e., 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,544, issued Sep. 25, 1979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,658, 
issued Dec. 2, 1980; and, U.S. Pat. No. Reissue 30,899, issued Apr. 13, 
1982. 
In the foregoing art, the article to be held was secured on a flat surface 
of clothing by a single strap. Such single strap securement apparatus 
failed to prevent horizontal rotation of items so held. Further, with the 
holding systems of the prior art, it was not possible to retain eyewear at 
the waistband height of a pants or a pair of shorts because, among other 
reasons, the article-holding portion of said holding systems was at a 
point below the hook-and-loop type attachment means. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide holding 
apparatus for retaining, for example, eyewear at the waistband of an 
article of clothing. 
It is, still, a further object of the present invention to provide holding 
apparatus for retaining eyewear at a top, horizontal edge of a pocket. 
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide holding 
apparatus for eyewear on apparel that is removably attachable; said 
apparatus being able to be transferred from one garment to another, i.e., 
a clip-on model. 
It is, yet, an additional object of the present invention to provide a 
holding apparatus for eyewear on apparel which is able to retain such 
eyewear in a manner which secures the eyewear against horizontal 
rotational movements. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a holding 
apparatus for eyewear on apparel which will overcome the disadvantages 
inherent in the prior art. 
The foregoing and related objects are accomplished by apparatus for the 
retention of eyewear on apparel such as, for example, pants and shirt 
pockets, which includes a fixed loop made of a flexible material, such as 
cloth. This permanent loop is affixed, preferably, to a top horizontal 
edge of a pocket or, alternatively, to an upper edge of a waistband of, 
e.g., pants, shorts, swimwear, etc. Preferably, the fixed loop of the 
invention is made in a manner similar to that of a conventional belt loop. 
The holding apparatus of the present invention further includes a strap, 
which is preferably, at a lower point on the outer side of the garment. 
Preferably, the front end is attached to the lower point of the 
permanently affixed loop. The second end of the strap is free, or 
unattached, and includes on, at least, one side, attachment means, such as 
complementary mating means, e.g., Velcro-type hook-and-loop mating means 
(registered trademark of the Velcro Corporation.) 
The attachment means on the free end of this strap is attachable to 
complementary attachment means located on the inner side of the garment; 
the inner side of the garment being the side opposite to which the user's 
eyewear is held. The inner side of a garment would preferably be the 
waistband of a pair of pants or the inner side of a pocket; the outer side 
of which the eyewear is to be held. In this manner, the eyewear is held at 
the highest possible point relative to the upper edge of the waistband or 
the pocket. Retaining the user's eyewear at the highest possible point 
relative to the upper edge of a waistband minimizes, the potential for 
damage to the user's eyewear. 
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent 
when considered in combination with the accompanying drawing figures. It 
should, however, be recognized that the accompanying drawing figures are 
intended as a means of illustrating the present invention and are not 
intended as a definition of the limits and scope thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now, in detail, to an analysis of the drawing figures, FIG. 1 is an 
elevational view of the securing apparatus 20 of the present invention 
retaining a pair of eyewear 22 at a waistband 24 of pants 26. Securing 
apparatus 20 includes an overlapping strip 28, which retains eyewear 22. 
FIG. 1A is a front, elevational view of the securing apparatus 20 of the 
present invention, as shown in an open mode. FIG. 1B is a perspective view 
of the inner side of the front area of waistband 24 of pants 26, which 
includes a portion of attachment means 30. 
Specifically, the overlapping strap 28, having attachment means 30 (with 
hook portion 30' being preferred at the end of strap 28), is in a mode 
wherein strap 28 is free, i.e., unsecured, to the inner side of waistband 
24, which includes a complementary portion of attachment means 30, as best 
shown in FIG. 1B. The complementary portion 30" of attachment means 30 
shown in FIG. 1B is preferably the loop portion of the hook-and-loop 
fastening means. The preference for this arrangement is that the loop 
portion of the attachment means is softer, i.e., less coarse, than the 
hook portion, which is preferably at the end of strap 28. The loop 
portion, at times when the securing apparatus 20 is in an open mode, for 
example, could contact the skin of the wearer of pants 26. In order to 
prevent possible discomfort, it is therefore preferable that the softer 
loop portion 30" be the complementary portion on the inner side of 
waistband 24, as per FIG. 1B. 
FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the 2--2 line of FIG. 1 and shows, in 
greater detail, eyewear 22 being secured by apparatus 20 of the present 
invention. Apparatus 20 includes a permanently fixed loop 32 which 
extends, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, from substantially an 
upper edge of waistband 24 to a lower point 34 on the outer surface of 
pants 26. Permanently affixed loop 32 retains one or both temple pieces 
22', 22" of eyewear 22, thereby minimizing rotational movement about a 
horizontal axis. 
Securing apparatus 20 further includes strip 28, which preferably has a 
first end affixed to a point along the outer side of pants 26 and, most 
preferably, is attached to point 34. Strip 28 has a second end which 
includes attachment means 30 for the removable attachment of this end to 
an inner side of pants 26, thereby enveloping eyewear 22 securely in place 
next to top edge of waistband 24. Attachment means 30, along the inner 
side of pants 26 is, preferably, comprised of loop portion 30" of 
complementary mating means 30. In such case, one portion, 30', of the 
complementary mating means 30, is attached to the second end of strip 28, 
while a complementary portion 30" of such mating means is attached to the 
inner side of pants 26. 
Preferably, the inner portion 30" of attachment means 30 is the 
loop-portion of the hook-loop complementary mating attachment means 30, 
while portion 30' of attachment means 30, on the second end of strip 28, 
is the hook portion of the hook-loop complementary mating attachment means 
30. This arrangement is preferred in order to prevent the user from being 
scratched, or otherwise discomforted, by the stiff hooks of the hook 
portion 30 ' of attachment means 30. 
FIG. 3 shows a front, perspective view showing a preferred mode of 
attachment of eyewear 22 to waistband 24, via strap 28 having hook-loop 
fastening means 30. After eyewear 22 is placed through fixed loop 32 on 
the outer side of waistband 24, strap 28 is closed, or secured, by 
affixing complementary attachment portion 30', of strap 28, to the inner 
side of waistband 24, which has complementary attachment portion 30" (see, 
FIG. 1B.) 
FIG. 4 shows a partial elevational view of one of the temple pieces 22' of 
eyewear 22 being inserted into fixed loop 32, which is attached to 
waistband 24. 
FIG. 5 shows eyewear 22 following insertion of temple pieces 22' and 22" 
into fixed loop 32. 
FIG. 6 shows strap 28 in the process of being folded back over the top edge 
of waistband 24, thereby enveloping and securing eyewear 22 in the manner 
shown in FIG. 7, upon the mating of complementary fastening parts 30' and 
30". This manner of securing is further enhanced by the pressure between 
complementary fastening parts 30' and 30" and the user's body weight being 
contained by waistband 24. 
FIGS. 8-10 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention which 
employs two fixed loops, 32' and 32". This construction allows for an easy 
insertion of both temple pieces 22', 22", for an extra secure hold so as 
to reduce rotational movement, or tilting, about a vertical axis. 
FIGS. 11-14 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein 
a detachable attachment "clip-on" inverted-U-shaped piece 40 for use with 
the apparatus of the present invention is presented. Clip-on piece 40 
includes a fixed strap 44, which includes one portion analogous to fixed 
strap 32 and a second portion analogous to strap 28, along with slot 42, 
through which strap 44 may pass. Strap 44 includes, at its free end, 
attachment mating means 30', as heretofore described. 
For securement to a belt, clip-on piece 40 can have two slots, one slot 
being on each leg through which strap 44 may pass in order to provide a 
more secure attachment of the entire holding apparatus. 
The inverted-U-shape of clip-on piece 40 permits such piece to extend over 
the top of waistband 24, with each half of clip-on piece 40 being adjacent 
either the inner or outer surface of the waistband or belt. Each half of 
clip-on piece 40 includes slots which would be at a point below the lower 
edge of waistband, or belt, 24. Through one or both slots 42', or 42' and 
42", would pass strap 44. Such an arrangement would permit the strap 44 to 
optionally attach the holding apparatus 40 to a belt by passing strap 44 
through both slots. Additionally, such an arrangement would permit the 
passage of temple pieces 22' and 22" of eyewear 22 to be retained by strap 
portion 32 when placed through one or both slots, as best shown in FIGS. 
12 and 13, and secured by attachment means 30, as per FIG. 14, in the 
manner previously described. 
Finally, it should be recognized that the holder means of the present 
invention has numerous applications beyond simply the retention of 
eyewear. Among other uses for the present invention, is use of the holding 
system for retention of a key chain or key ring. Additionally, the 
securing means of the present invention may be utilized on a sun visor as, 
for example, found in an automobile. 
While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and 
described, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that 
many modifications may be made to the present invention without departing 
from the spirit and scope thereof.