Abstract:
Safety glasses holders and eye glass holders for securing to hats or fabric comprising a fixed fastener design, wherein said fastener design has a broad Y-shaped insertion point, a rigid or resilient serrated tooth or ratchet type interference eyeglass holder mechanism and a narrowing U-shaped body similar to the shape of an eyeglass arm and fastening design which allows the fastener to either be sewn into or glued onto the hat for holding the arm of a pair of eye glasses, sun glasses or safety glasses.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 09/733,125 filed Dec. 8, 2000 in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office now U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,059; and which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to eyeglass holders and, in particular, safety glass holders, sunglass holders and clear eyeglass holders adapted to secure to a hat or clothing of a user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Safety is a paramount issue in refineries and chemical plants, oil field rig sites or other industrial sites. Most plants require their employees to wear safety glasses during work time, particularly if they are outside of a building. Problems have developed in where to put safety glasses, when not in use, while keeping them handy for instantaneous use. The present invention has been created to save the eyes and health of the many refinery and chemical plant workers, other heavy industry workers and also has use in the recreational sports area. 
     Millions of people wear eyeglasses and sunglasses everyday. However, many of them remove their eyeglasses during the course of the day for various reasons, when they come inside from the sun, when they enter a tunnel, or come into a dark place. In some cases, individuals remove their eyeglasses to perform other activities because they need glasses only to read, and not see distance. In each case, the user requires a place to hold or store the eyeglasses when they are not used. 
     While safety glasses are very bulky and difficult to store, normal sunglass cases are commonly available, as are chains or strings which move about the head or neck of a user and hold the eyeglasses when they are removed from the user&#39;s head. As chains are fully functional to store or hold eyeglasses when not in use, they frequently suffer from practical or aesthetic shortcomings that limit their use. Individuals who desire to skate board, ski or do other sports, frequently, do not choose to carry eye glass cases, and may, for safety reasons, prefer not to use sun glass chains or braided ropes. Safety glasses are usually too heavy to be supported by such strings, particularly of the safety glasses are prescription glasses. Various improvisations may be made to hold and support eyeglasses when not in use, though they frequently suffer from an inability to secure the glasses, or are aesthetically undesirable to trendy users. 
     The present invention addresses these and other deficiencies associated with the problems of holding safety glasses on an employee&#39;s person yet keeping the glasses really handy for instantaneous use in case of a chemical excursion or other problems which does not enable an employee time to get the glasses out of a case or other container. In addition, the present invention provides a strong support which is trending for contemporary eye glass and sunglass users. The present invention provides four versions of a device for securing eyeglasses against dislodgment by an active user, while providing an aesthetically pleasing construction that can appear as an ornamental feature for a hat or article of clothing. 
     When in use, the construction of the present invention allows the glass holder to serve its intended function, without detracting from the appearance of the hat to which it is attached. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an eyeglass holder which, when in use, distributes the load of the glasses over a broader area of a hat to avoid or mitigate the eyeglasses from weighting the hat in an unbalanced manner. 
     These and other advantages of the invention are described in more detail below in conjunction with the presently preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A safety glasses or similar eye glass holder is disclosed for personal use which is attachable to an individual&#39;s hat or an article of fabric, or clothing, for supporting and securing a pair of safety glasses, sun glasses or similar eye glasses. The holder preferably comprises a clip or a fixed fastener which is engageable with a hat or fabric or an article of clothing. The holder extends from the hat and is in one version is permanently affixed to the hat, and in another version is removably affixed to the hat. 
     The eye glass fastener, for the non-removable version is preferably formed as a substantially planar circular member, fabricated of resilient plastic material or light weight metal alloy, a composite, a laminate or combinations thereof. The fastener has a diameter of approximately one-third inch. In the presently preferred embodiment the clip formed to have a length of approximately one half to two inches long and is preferably {fraction (11/2)} inches long. The clip may be longer than 2 inches for hats, which are very large and cumbersome, such as hard hats. The preferred clip has a length of approximately 1 inch. 
     In another embodiment the eye glass fastener is preferably formed as a substantially planar elongated U-shaped member, similar to the shape of an eyeglass arm and fabricated of resilient plastic material or light weight metal alloy, a composite, a laminate or combinations thereof. The fastener has a thickness of approximately one-third inch. In the presently preferred embodiment the fastener is formed to have a length of approximately 5 inches and is preferably Y-shaped and 1 ½ to 2 inches high at one end of the fastener where the eyeglasses are inserted and U-shaped being ¼ to ½ inch high at the other end of the fastener where the eyeglasses stop when inserted. 
     It is contemplated that any of the embodiments of the eye glass fastener may be formed as a single piece from plastic, a light weight metal alloy or be a laminated material and which has a thickness of between 0.10-0.3 inches. In a preferred embodiment the fasteners are made from material that is approximately 0.15 inches thick. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the clip embodiment of the invention supporting sunglasses on a hat; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the construction shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the clip of FIG. 1 without the eyeglasses; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the clip of FIG. 1 holding the arm of eyeglasses; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the clip; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a wedge shaped clip of the invention supporting eyeglasses on a hat; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the wedge shaped clip of FIG. 6 without glasses attached; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the wedge shaped clip of FIG. 6 with the glasses secured; 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the wedge shaped clip of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of a fastener for securing glasses, with the glasses secured; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the fastener of FIG. 11 with the glasses arm in place; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the fastener of FIG. 11 without the glasses; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the fastener shown as a guided insert embodiment with the eyeglasses inserted; and 
     FIG. 15 is a top view of the fastener of FIG. 14 with eyeglasses inserted; 
     FIG. 16 is a detailed side view of the fastener of FIG. 14; and 
     FIG. 17 is a section view of the fastener of FIG. 14 with sunglasses inserted. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth functions and construction of the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be accomplished within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The present invention involves four basic fastening designs, the clip design, the wedge design, the fastened holder design and the guided insert fastener design. All can be used with sunglasses, safety glasses or any other form of eye wear and is attachable to soft hats such as ball caps or ski caps or hard hats for making safety glasses easily and instantaneously available thereby preventing injury to an employee. 
     I. THE CLIP 
     FIG. 1 generally illustrates the arrangement of a clip  10  disposed upon a hat  12  for holding safety or other types of eye glasses  14 , which includes sun glasses. Many types of hats could be used with the clip design with the exception of cowboy hats or hats, which have a brim that totally covers the head. For hats with a brim that totally covers the head, such as a cowboy hat, then the fastened holder design would work within the scope of the present invention. The non-removable design, the fastened holder design, also would work well with hard hats. 
     The clip  10  supports eyeglasses  14  whereby the eyeglass arm  16  is held into place by the clip  10  at the clip top  18 . A U shaped securing piece  20  holds the clip top  18  to the hat  12 . 
     FIG. 2 provides a top view of the clip  10  holding arm  16  against the hat  12  while the hat is on the head of the wearer. At least one clip  10  is needed to hold the glasses to the hat and two are preferred,  10  and  22 . 
     FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5  shows detailed view of the clip  10 , taken from the side and front perspectives. FIG. 3 shows the clip  10  having the U shaped securing piece  20  and serrated teeth  24  making a secure connection to the hat. A C shaped holder element  26  is used to secure the eye glass arm, and a soft foam, rubber or plastic insert  28  is additionally and optionally used to contact to the sunglass arm  16 . A preformed internal wire  30  is shown in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5  for resiliently engaging the clip elements together. 
     FIG. 5 shows the clip  10 , which includes a substantially planar member  32  for securing to the inside of the hat and smoothly sliding against the head. A hinge enables the clip to move away from the hat to engage the arm of the eye glasses. 
     II. THE WEDGE SHAPED CLIP 
     In another embodiment of the invention, shown as FIG. 6, the hat  12  has wedge shaped clip  34  for engaging the arm  16  of glasses  14 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, wherein the hat  12  has a wedge shaped clip  34  for holding arm  16  on two sides of the arm. 
     As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the clip be preferably formed of resilient plastic material that is sufficiently stiff to resiliently support to provide resilient lateral support to the hat upon engagement of the eye glasses to the clip. It is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention to have the clip made from a lightweight metal alloy, or composite of plastic and metal alloy. However, the clip needs to be sufficiently deformable to resiliently distribute the load of the eye glass arm to the hat. This load distribution mechanism mitigates stretching or pulling of the hat about the clip, and mitigates an unbalanced load situation about the hat. It is also contemplated that an elastic cord can be used to hold the arm of the eyeglasses and remain within the scope of the invention, in place of the fastener. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment the wedge shaped clip is constructed such that the clip top width of approximately 0.5 inches. 
     FIG. 8 shows a side view of the wedge shaped clip of the invention. The wedge shaped clip has a planar member  19  for fitting smoothly inside a hat, and connected to the planar member, is a U shaped securing piece  20  extending normally from the planar member  19  forming an apparatus for engaging the hat material. The U shaped securing piece  20  is connected to a V-shaped member  42  extending from the U shaped member, wherein the V shaped member  42  having a pair of serrated teeth,  38  and  40 . 
     FIG. 9 shows the V shaped member  42  for holding the eyeglass arm  16  in place by engaging the serrated teeth against the arm  16 . The V-shaped member shown in FIGS. 8,  9 , and FIG. 10 has a wedge shape. For providing more support to the holding of the arm V shaped member  42  may further comprise a resilient wedge pad  48  further supported by a plurality of resilient wedge bars  50 ,  52 ,  54  for providing more pressure enabling a more secure grip on the eye glass arm into the hat. 
     III. THE NON-REMOVABLE HOLDER 
     A third embodiment of the invention involves a non-removable holder, which is secured to the inside of the hat and a strip that slides around the arm of the eyeglasses. FIG. 11 shows a top view of the non-removable holder  56  secured to hat  12  holding eyeglass arms  14  and  16 . 
     As shown in the cross-sectional view provided in FIG. 12, the holder  56 , has a frame  58  secured to the inside of a hat  12  having an upper end  60  and a lower end  62 . In one embodiment, of the non-removable holder a pair of elastic cords can be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a first elastic cord  64  extends from the upper end  60 . A second elastic cord  66  extends from lower end  62 . 
     As shown in better detail in FIG. 13, cord  64  has a first end  68  and second end  70  with each end penetrating the fabric of the hat from the outside of said hat and secured to the upper end  60  of the frame  58 . The second elastic cord  66  has a first attaching end  72  and a second attaching end  74  with each attaching end penetrating the fabric of the hat from the outside of the hat and secured to the lower end  62  of the frame  58 . 
     A strip  76 , shown in both FIGS. 13 and 12 is disposed on the outside of the hat for engaging the arm  16  of the safety or eyeglasses. Preferably this strip  76  has a first strip end  78  and a second strip end  80  wherein the first strip end  78  is secured to the first elastic cord  64  and the second strip end  80  is secured to the second elastic cord  66 . One of the advantages of this embodiment is that all possible diameters of eyeglass legs can be used. 
     The strip  76 , like the wedge shaped clip is preferably made from plastic, or optionally from a lightweight metal alloy or composite of plastic and metal alloy which is preferably between 0.005-0.5 inches thick. In the presently preferred embodiment the strip thickness is approximately 0.05 inches thick. 
     The strip length is preferably selected to provide an aperture of approximately {fraction (3/16)}-inch thick to hold the arm of the eyeglasses. 
     In a second embodiment of this non-removable holder, two pins can project from the frame to the strip  76 . Foam can be disposed on the side of strip  76 , which faces the hat, enabling the eyeglass arms to snugly and securely fit on the hat. 
     IV. THE GUIDED INSERT FASTENER 
     FIG. 14 generally illustrates the arrangement of a fastener  10  disposed upon a hat  12  for holding safety or other types of eyeglasses  14 , which includes sunglasses. Many types of hats could be used with the clip design including cowboy hats or hats which have a brim that totally covers the head. 
     The fastener  10  supports eyeglasses  14  whereby the eyeglass arm  16  is held into place by the fastener  10 . An interference fit mechanism  112  caused simply by a reduction in the cross sectional area of the fastener or, in the preferred embodiment, a rigid or resilient rachet mechanism  112 . 
     FIG. 15 provides a top view of the fastener  10  holding arm  16  against the hat  12  while the hat is on the head of the wearer. At least one fastener  10  is needed to hold the glasses to the hat and two are preferred,  10  and  22 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention FIG. 16 shows a detailed side view of the fastener  10 . This figure shows the fastener  10  having the Y shaped insertion piece  118  to accept front insertion of the eyeglasses, serrated teeth  112  at approximately midpoint of the fastener and like serrated teeth  116  on the eyeglasses making a secure connection to the hat. Numerous rib-like sewing or gluing attachments  114  are configured into the circumference of the fastener to permit threaded attachment to the hat  12 . 
     FIG. 17 shows a cross section of the fastener with multiple sewing attachments  114  which are essentially holes through which thread may be passed to connect the fastener to the hat or gluing attachment  114  which are essentially holes through which adhesive may be passed which, when hardened, will connect the fastener to the cap. This figure shows a cross section of the guided insert with a sunglass arm  16  inserted. 
     This fastener and holder can be used on a variety of hats, such as baseball hats, hard hats, ski hats, and even scuba hoods. Any of a variety of hats can be used within the scope of this invention, soft hats, hats with hard brims, hat without brims, and hats with partial brims. 
     It is contemplated that the he invention may be manufactured using a process called injection molding. Injection molding of plastics is a process by which the plastic material is melted and then injected into the mold cavity(ies). Once the melted plastic is in the mold, it cools to a shape that reflects the mold cavities. Generally the process comprises the following steps: Step 1: The plastic is molten in the machine and injected into the cavities; Step 2: Coolant circulates around the mold and cools down the part(s); Step 3: The mold opens, and the part remains in place on one half of the mold; Step 4: Ejector pins push against the part(s) and it falls out of the mold; and Step 5: The mold closes, and the cycle starts over. 
     As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, various modifications or enhancements of the invention may be implemented without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as described herein.