Patent Publication Number: US-2004056055-A1

Title: Swivel mounted commodity case

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This is a continuation of Provisional Application No. 60/412438, filed Sep. 19, 2002. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of optic accessories and in particular to a swivel-mounted case for holding and dispensing an optical device, such as a pair of eyeglasses.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] In the field of optical devices, cases are often provided for the protection of the devices, such as a pair of eyeglasses. In particular, cases are provided for storing eye glasses when they are not in use. In the prior art, glass cases are generally provided in a shape and form for sheathing a pair of glasses such that a compact storage arrangement using a lightweight material is embodied. Such cases are not durable and are subject to inadvertent damage by crushing, bending, or other damaging effects due to accident. Misplacement of glass cases is also a common problem.  
       [0004] There are however, hard-bodied eyeglass cases available. An example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,873, entitled EYEGLASS CONTAINER WITH LID, which issued on Mar. 9, 1999, to Stewart F. Clark. The container disclosed in this patent is basically a rigid tubular container with an open first end and a lid that covers the open first end. The second end is typically closed. A lid is attached to the body of the container by means of a hinge.  
       [0005] Another drawback with the prior-art cases is that those that can attach to clothing such as a pocket for, example, have stationary clips that often get in the way or become snagged when detaching or re-attaching the case to the particular pocket. Moreover, the clip can also cause other pocketed utensils such as pens, business cards and the like to become inadvertently dislodged from a user&#39;s pocket.  
       [0006] An example of the clip-type eyeglass holder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,003 B1, entitled EYEGLASS CLIP DEVICE, which issued Apr. 3, 2001, to Li-Li Chan and Kuang Fu. Basically this holder includes an elastic clip for holding a pair of eyeglasses to a belt or other item of clothing. Another example of the clip-type eyeglass holder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,414 B2, which issued on Mar. 18, 2003 to Barbara Newler. A third example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,812, entitled EYEGLASS HOLDER, which issued on Sep. 28, 1999, to January L.Moennig. None of these clip-type eyeglass holders offer any protection for the eyeglasses against scratching or breaking.  
       [0007] The purchase of eyeglasses, such as sunglasses and prescription glasses, can be an expensive investment often costing several hundred dollars. To obtain long lasting and functional use of a pair of eyeglasses, it is important that the glasses be properly cared for and protected. Many modern eyeglasses are formed from thin, aesthetically appealing frames that can be relatively fragile. Furthermore, proper care of eyeglasses requires that the lenses be protected when not in use so as to avoid scratching of the lenses.  
       [0008] What is clearly needed is a durable commodity case that can be securely mounted to a user&#39;s belt wherein its contents can be securely removed and replaced with ease of movement, and wherein removal of the contents does not interfere with other carried items or clothing.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] As will be amplified in greater detail hereinbelow, the present invention solves the prior art problems by providing a swivel mounted commodity case for holding eyeglasses that includes a durable tubular-shaped elongated case having an interior surface extending from a first end to an opposed closed second end wherein the interior surface forms a holding chamber for receiving the eyeglasses. A top is added that is hingedly attached to the first end of the case. The top is adapted to selectively move between an open position wherein the opening to the chamber is freely exposed and a closed position wherein the top covers the first end of the case. A rotatable clip is provided which is used for attaching the case to a user&#39;s clothing. The clip includes a clip member having a clasp for attaching to the user&#39;s clothing and includes a slot receptacle; and, an annular hub for attachment to a side of the case. The hub is disposed for engaging the slot receptacle in order to attach the case to the clip member, whereby the case is rotatably mounted to the user&#39;s clothing.  
       [0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved eyeglass case for holding and protecting eyeglasses, which is handy for access by the user.  
       [0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved eyeglass case that is rigid and easily mounted to an article of the user&#39;s clothes.  
       [0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved optical commodity case that when attached to a user&#39;s clothing can swivel with movement of the user, while at the same time protecting a fragile pair of eyeglasses.  
       [0013] Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved optical commodity case that is easy to open and can hold a variety of different types of eyeglasses.  
       [0014] Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein is shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and what is intended to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. The present invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description and attached drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts, and which drawings form a part of this application. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a commodity case with a rotatable clip according to an embodiment of the present invention  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a left-side view of the case as shown in FIG. 1 with a rotatable clip attached. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT:  
     [0017]FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a commodity case with a rotatable belt clip according to an embodiment of the present invention. Case  100  is adapted as a durable case for storing optics in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. Optics (not shown) are stored in the case  100 , which includes a handle and non-handle bearing glasses or spectacles. The case  100  is preferably manufactured in a durable and lightweight material, such as aluminum. Other equivalent durable materials, such as some types of polymers, may also be used in the manufacture of the case  100 .  
     [0018] The case  100  has an openable top  101  and a main case body  103 . The top  100  is connected to the body  103  by means of a hinge  102  in the illustrated example. In a preferred embodiment, the top  101  is biased closed with a spring mechanism (not shown). The spring mechanism also connects to the hinge  102  so that when opening the top  101  spring tension is present, and the spring tension favors closing past a certain angle of the top  101  and opening at a greater angle of the top  101 .  
     [0019] The case  100  is of a length and major width dimension to comfortable accommodate a pair of glasses in the folded position. The case  100  has a rotatable clip  108  affixed to one outside wall thereof. The clip  108  is preferably positioned at substantial center of the major width of the case and somewhat above the center of the length dimension of the case  100 . The clip  108  comprises a base portion  105  springedly attached to a spring loaded clasp  105  for the purpose of enabling the case  100  to be clipped onto a user&#39;s belt, for example. The spring mechanism (not shown) can be any known in the prior art of manufacture of spring tension clasps. The clip  108  is preferably mounted on the sidewall of the case  100  using a glue pad  107  and an annular hub  106 . The clip  108  is rotatably mounted to the hub  106  so that it may freely rotate about the hub in the direction of the arrows and in the reverse direction as well.  
     [0020]FIG. 2 is a left-side view of the case shown in FIG. 1. In this example, the clip  108  is illustrated as being mounted to the case  100  using the pad  107  and the hub  106 . The hub  106  may be a fixed hub or a spinning hub. The clasp  105  is shown attached to the clip body  104  (spring not shown). The hub  106  is inserted into a slot receptacle of the clip  108  and is held in place by means of a spring-loaded pawl. The hub  106  is released from the pawl by a release lever, also under spring tension. When placed in position, preferably on a user&#39;s belt, the case  100  of the present invention is freely rotatable and can be easily rotated to a position most convenient to the user for removing and replacing the contents thereof, such as eyeglasses stored in the case. The feature of rotatability with respect to the case  100  enables the least amount of manual work to remove and replace the eyeglasses stored therein. Similarly, removing and replacing eyeglasses from the case  100  in this embodiment does not interfere with the user&#39;s clothing or other utensils the user may be carrying. Keeping the case  100  clipped to a user&#39;s belt while working, or while engaged in normal activities enables a more secure storage setting wherein a user is less likely to misplace or lose the case  100 .  
     [0021] The apparatus of the present invention provides a consumer market that is non-existent in the prior art. People who are on the go and who are highly mobile, such as in the professions of sales, construction and many other professions benefit from always having their glasses in convenient reach and from exerting the least amount of time and effort when retrieving their glasses or other commodities from their rotatably mounted cases.  
     [0022] Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiment as well as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications of embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.