Eyewear bottle opener

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.

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'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'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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, and in particular toFIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a first embodiment of the eyewear bottle opener10being used by an individual12. In this embodiment the bottle opener14is housed within the earpiece16of the frame26near the hinge28of the frame26so that the lever30of the bottle opener14is accessible from the top18of the earpiece16.

FIG. 2is a rear perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1. The bottle opener14is shown positioned near the hinge28. The hinge28is reinforced by nine joints32. The hinge32can be reinforced by more or fewer joints as necessary. The bottle opener14is attached to an anchor34, both of which are made from aluminum in this embodiment, that adds support to the earpiece16that is molded thereabout when the bottle opener14is used for its intended purpose. The bottle opener14and the anchor34can be made of other materials, such as varying metals or alloys. Proper materials for the construction of the bottle opener14and the anchor34will be well known to those having skill in the art. In this embodiment the frame26is made from plastic. The frame26can be made from other materials, such as metal, an alloy, or a ceramic material. Proper materials for the construction of the frame26will be well known to those having skill in the art.

FIG. 3is a rear perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1wherein the bottle opener14is positioned such that the lever30of the bottle opener14is accessible from the side20of the earpiece16. The bottle opener14is attached to an anchor34inFIG. 3as well.

FIG. 4is a rear perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1wherein the bottle opener14is positioned at the end22of the earpiece16. The bottle opener14is shown attached to an anchor34.

FIG. 5is a rear perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1that is similar to the invention shown inFIG. 2except that the bottle opener14is accessible from the bottom24of the earpiece16.

FIG. 6is a rear perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein the bottle opener14is positioned above the nosepiece36of the frame26that connects the portions of the frame26that hold the lenses38.

FIG. 7is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein a bottle opener40is a separate piece that is attached to the earpiece16of the frame26via a magnet42or other means such as hook-and-loop fasteners.

FIG. 8is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a bottle opener44is housed within a housing46in the earpiece16of the frame26such that the bottle opener44may be rotated out of the housing46for use.

FIG. 9is a perspective view, partially shown in phantom, illustrating yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a bottle opener48is formed at the hinge28of the frame26upon the folding of the earpiece16. Upon the folding of the earpiece16, the portion of the bottle opener48attached to the earpiece16is 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.