Abstract:
An eyeglass holder attachable around the neck of, or to an article of clothing worn by the user for supporting a pair of eyeglasses. The eyeglasses are supported facing away from the user by the bridge and folded stems of the eyeglasses. A biasingly extendable retaining member elastically holds the bridge from substantial movement while enhancing adaptability of the device to a very broad range of eyeglass sizes and shapes. A support member which receives the bridge of the eyeglasses preferably includes a length of deformable wire or the like molded within, and extending at least part way through, the upright member and the support member which allows the support member to be repositioned for better eyeglass stem support and retention.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Scope of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to eyeglass holders, and more particularly to an eyeglass holder which will retain the eyeglasses in a particular orientation without substantial movement with respect to the neck or clothing of the user. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Many people wear eyeglasses and all are challenged with having a convenient and safe place to carry the eyeglasses which is both safe and renders the eyeglasses easily accessible. Even with the advent of very effective and convenient contact lenses, still a great deal of people must rely on conventional eyeglasses. Although manufacturers of eyeglasses typically provide a case for this purpose, the convenience of utilizing a case for both protection and carrying represents more of an inconvenience to the user than the benefits derived therefrom. 
     A well-known solution for carrying eyeglasses is simply to connect a cord from each distal end of each of the temples or side pieces of the eyeglasses, which cord is draped around the back of the neck to hold the eyeglasses in a downwardly position at the chest area when not in use However, the eyeglasses when held in the non-use position with these neck cords typically dangle and swing about, increasing the likelihood of damage, excessive abuse and even loss. 
     A patented device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,934 invented by Grey teaches a combination tool and eyeglass holder which is also hung about the neck by a flexible cord. This device includes a ring for attachment of one of the eyeglass temples inserted therethrough and further includes a horizontally positioned container for holding a small eyeglass screwdriver for adjustments. However, in Grey the eyeglasses are still free to swing or pitch about when not in use, thus not providing much more in the way of eyeglass protection than the previously described neck cord connected to each of the ends of the eyeglass temples. 
     Vaughn, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,484, teaches a lapel pin eyeglass and pillbox combination, but in this device as well, the eyeglasses are held by one of the temples in the folded position and the eyeglasses are again free to dangle and swing about and would appear to be in some jeopardy of being completely disengaged because of the “J” shape of the hook for eyeglass retention. 
     Another eyeglass holder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,838 invented by Eppenaur wherein an eyeglass holder may be attached to the user similar to that of a pendant or connected to a necklace worn by the user. This device also presents a horizontal loop into which one temple of the eyeglasses may be inserted for supportive retention. However, once again, the dangling and swinging of the eyeglasses about the single tension support arrangement leaves a great deal to be desired in terms of both protection and stability of the eyeglasses when not in use. 
     A button-on holder for eyeglasses is taught by Wallo in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,126 in which a very simple yet unobtrusive eyeglass hanger is disclosed. This eyeglass holder is attached to a button on the front of a shirt or blouse, one stem of the eyeglasses insertable through the bottom portion of the aperture for receiving the button. Although this device perhaps lends a bit more stability to the hanging eyeglasses because they press against the body of the user by the front or back area of the folded eyeglasses, nonetheless dangling and swinging of the stored eyeglasses is likely even with this device. 
     I recently invented an eyeglass holder disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,924 which overcomes many of the above limitations of unwanted eyeglass movement when held in a stored position on the user&#39;s torso or clothing. However, the complexity of manufacture has rendered this patented invention somewhat expensive to manufacture. Moreover, because of the broad range of eyeglass sizes, a “one size fits all” device under my &#39;924 patent has proved to be elusive. 
     The present invention overcomes these limitations of unwanted eyeglass movement when in a stored position while also providing the desirable “one size fits all” and manufacturing economy benefits. With the present invention, very little eyeglass movement, if any, is likely and eyeglasses of all sizes are always held in a stable position for ease in convenient removal and restoring. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an eyeglass holder attachable around the neck of, or to an article of clothing worn by the user for supporting a pair of eyeglasses. The eyeglasses are supported facing away from the user by the bridge and folded stems of the eyeglasses. A biasingly extendable retaining member elastically holds the bridge from substantial movement while enhancing adaptability of the device to a very broad range of eyeglass sizes and shapes. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an eyeglass holder which will retain the eyeglasses in a substantially stationary position with respect to the user so as to minimize the likelihood of eyeglass damage and annoyance from unnecessary movement. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an eyeglass holder which is easily attachable in various ways against the body and/or clothing of the user. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide an eyeglass holder for storing eyeglasses when not in use against the body of the user wherein the eyeglasses may be stored and secured from substantial movement in either a temples open or a temples closed orientation. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a one-size fits all device for holding eyeglasses which is easily adaptable to various eyeglass sizes and is economical to manufacture. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown with a pair of eyeglasses (temples closed position) being supported thereby shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation broken view of the invention as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a broken view in the direction of arrows  3 — 3  in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a variation of the embodiment in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of yet another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to FIGS. 1 to  3 , the preferred embodiment of the invention is generally shown at numeral  10  and includes an elongated generally flat rigid or semi-rigid molded plastic upright member  12  and a downwardly disposed plastic support member  14  dependently extending generally diagonally from an upper end of upright member  12 . When viewed from the side as seen in FIG. 2, the upright member  12  and eyeglass bridge support member  16  combine to have the appearance of an inverted “Y” shape. 
     A pair of eyeglasses are shown generally at numeral A and include a central bridge C and pivotally connected temples or side -members shown at B. The present invention utilizes the structure of both the bridge C and temples B to effect supportive retention of the eyeglasses A as described herebelow. 
     Disposed at the lower end of the upright member  12  is an upturned portion  14  which extends diagonally upwardly from the upright member  12  and from the same side or direction therefrom as does the support member  16 . This upturned portion  14  defines a secondary eyeglass support zone or area H seen in FIG. 2 for supportingly receiving the temples B of the eyeglasses A when in the folded orientation as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Support member  16  is sized in length to accommodate a broad range of bridge sizes which will fit and rest thereagainst with the eyeglasses A oriented in an outwardly facing position shown in FIG.  1 . In the embodiment  10  the temples B are oriented in a closed position so that they are positioned downwardly and receive support within the secondary support area H by upturned portion  14 . 
     The device  10  is preferably molded as a unit utilizing a modeling polymer clay marketed by Polyform Products Co., Inc. under the trademark SCULPEY SUPER FLEX™. This product includes PCT and a plasticizer (phtlalic esters). 
     Once the bridge C of the eyeglasses A is placed against the outwardly facing surface of support member  16  in the region of area G in FIG. 2, an elastic retaining member or strap  20  which is attached at  26  to the outer surface of arcuate portion  36 , is stretched elastically in the direction of arrow D. An apertured fitting  22  attached adjacent the distal end of the retaining strap  20  is then fitted over a prong  32  which extends from and is laterally offset from the lower end of support member  16 . The retaining member  20 , once stretched into the position shown in phantom at  20 ′, is then conformingly engaged around the bridge C within area G by movement in the direction of arrow E and then retained over prong  32  within apertured fitting  22 . By this arrangement of the elastic retaining strap  20 , virtually any bridge configuration of eyeglasses may be accommodated. The folded temples B of the eyeglasses A will then be positioned within area H defining the secondary support for the eyeglasses. The upturned portion  14  and the upright member  12  define this secondary support area H to accomplish this additional support and eyeglass stabilization. 
     Another important aspect of the present invention is also shown in FIG.  2  and includes an elongated length of deformable wire  34  which is embedded into the device  10  at molding manufacture. This deformable length of wire  34  may extend end-o-end of the device as shown in hidden lines and in solid lines within the broken area of the support member  16 . The beneficial feature of this embedded deformable wire  34  is that the support member  16  may be easily manually non-resiliently deformed in the direction of arrow F into another selected position shown in phantom once the eyeglasses A are in the position above described. This affords a positive and accurate adjustment of the relative spacing between areas G and H so that the folded temples B of the eyeglasses A will take a more engaged and positively supported position within the secondary support area H. Likewise, in the embodiment shown, the upturned portion  14  may also be deformed and take a new angular orientation with respect to the upright member  12  again by manual manipulation and deformation of the embedded deformable wire  34 . 
     Note that, although the deformable wire length  34  extends as shown throughout the entire device, it may be foreshortened at  38  so that, although there is resiliency associated with the lower end of the upright member  12  and the upturned portion  14 , the deformable aspect is not present in doing so. 
     Two means for retaining the device  10  in position with respect to a user&#39;s clothing are shown in this disclosure. Primary support is received from around the neck of a user by providing an elongated flexible cord  28  which mateably engages into a cylindrical aperture  30  formed at each end of a tubular support member  18  which is, in turn, attached to the arcuate portion  36  extending between upright member  12  and support member  16 . As best seen in FIG. 3, each end of the cord  28  includes a metal fitting  40  which is snugly retained within the opening  30  when inserted together in the direction of the arrow thereshown. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  50  formed as a unit of molded plastic material as above described. This embodiment  50  also includes an upright member  52  having an upturned portion  54  at its lower end and a diagonally and downwardly extending support member  56  disposed from an arcuately configured upper end thereof. An elongated elastic retaining strap  60  is attached at its lower end at  66  to outturned support flange  64  disposed at the lower distal end of support member  56 . When elastically extended in the direction of arrow J, an aperture  62  formed at the distal end of retaining strap  60 , is engageable over prong  74 . This prong  64  is formed as a “bight” of an elongated deformable wire member  76  which is embedded within the device at its molding. Note that, although the deformable wire  76  extends only generally through the arcuate portion positioned between upright member  52  and support member  56 , nonetheless the deformable substantially non-resilient bendable feature as shown in the direction of arrow K effects the permanent reconfiguration of the relationship between the support member  56  and the upright member  52  to better accommodate a broad range of eyeglass sizes. 
     As with respect to the prior embodiment  10 , the elastic retaining member  60  would take a typical position or orientation shown in phantom to positively envelope the bridge of the eyeglasses (not shown in FIG. 4) within area L for positive retention while the stems of the eyeglasses in their folded position would be supported between the lower end of the upright member  52  and its upturned portion  54 . An additional attaching means to the user or article clothing is in the form of a loop  68  which may be attached to a button of a shirt or to a necklace or other similar support device worn by the user. 
     In FIG. 5, the addition of a resiliently compressible pad or sheet  72  has been added to the support member  56  of FIG. 4 so as to provide better conforming engagement between the bridge of the eyeglasses and the sheet of foam  72 . 
     Referring lastly to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the invention is there shown at  80 . This embodiment  80  is somewhat simpler in form and concept and includes an elongated upright member  82  and an upturned portion  84  extending therefrom at its lower end to define a secondary support area M. Disposed from the upper end of the upright member  82  is an elastic retaining member support  88  having an upwardly extending prong  98  which receives an aperture  92  formed adjacent a distal end of an elastically extendable retaining member or band  90 . As with the previous embodiments, the elastic retaining member  90  must be extended in the direction of arrow N by manual stretching to establish engagement of aperture over prong  98  and, when the eyeglasses A are in the position shown in phantom, the elastic retaining member  90  stretches further into a typical position shown in phantom to entrap and hold the bridge C of the eyeglasses A in position against the outwardly facing surface of upright member  82 . 
     A flexible necklace  94  permanently attached at  96  into the upper support member  88  is also provided as one means of attachment to the user. Other means for accomplishing this user attachment are disclosed in my earlier U.S. Pat. &#39;924 and are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.