Abstract:
A sporting-goods device capable of removably attaching to eyewear, specifically swimming goggles, and another object to prevent loss of the eyewear.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/983,686, filed Oct. 30, 2007, by Joseph Allessie, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to the field of sporting goods, specifically an accessory to prevent loss of swimming goggles. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Recreational and professional swimmers alike use swimming goggles to both protect their eyes from chlorinated water and to be able to see clearly under water. However, many swimmers often find themselves in need of a new pair because they mistakenly leave their goggles on the edge of the pool, on a lounge chair, in a locker room, or because they sink and cannot be located. 
         [0006]    Replacing lost goggles can be expensive, especially with children who are notorious for losing goggles, for professional swimmers who often buy high-end, high-priced goggles, or for swimmers who buy custom corrective lens goggles. It is therefore important to have a lightweight goggle accessory that can removably attach to both a pair of goggles and another object, such as an arm, a pool bag, or a keychain. It is also important to keep goggles afloat to prevent sinking. This type of device would keep a swimmer&#39;s goggles either on his or her body or together with other personal items when not in use, thereby decreasing the chance of loss or inadvertent damage. This type of device could be used with other kinds of eyewear, such as sunglasses or reading glasses, to prevent loss of those items as well. 
         [0007]    Eyeglass retention devices currently exist on the market, such as those sold by Croakies®, but those devices are not suitable for use with goggles. Additionally, although a goggle retaining device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,650, that device is for attachment of goggles to a swimsuit, is not removable from the swimsuit, and therefore cannot be used with other objects, such as a tote bag. 
         [0008]    What is needed is a lightweight device that can removably attach to both a pair of goggles or other eyewear and the owner&#39;s body or another object to prevent loss. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the present device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of the present device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  depicts a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1C  depicts a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the present device in an in-use configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present device  100 . At least one edge of the lower surface of a first substantially planar member  102  can be connected to at least one edge of the upper surface of a second substantially planar member  104 . The lower surface of said first substantially planar member  102  and the upper surface of said second substantially planar member  104  can each be connected to at least one fastening region  106 . Said fastening regions  106  can be paired to mate with each other, such that said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can removably attach to each other. Fastening regions  106  can be in the form of strips covering a small portion of each of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-IC , or can cover the entire surface area of at least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104 . 
         [0015]    At least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can be coupled with at least one elongated flexible member  108 . In  FIG. 1 , elongated flexible members  108  are connected substantially close to a short edge of a second substantially planar member  104 . In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1B , a second substantially planar member  104  can have an aperture  112  adapted to accept at least one elongated flexible member  108 . In alternate embodiments, at least one elongated flexible member  108  can be coupled with any other known and/or convenient location on or through at least one of said first or second substantially planar members  102  and  104 . 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1C , at least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can have at least one channel  114  running through it adapted to accommodate the strap of a pair of goggles and/or at least one elongated flexible member  108  and temporarily secure said strap and/or elongated flexible member  108  when substantially planar members  102  and  104  are removably attached to each other via said fastening regions  106  (see  FIG. 2 ).  FIG. 1C  shows a device  100  comprising two channels  114  and two sets of fastening regions  106  on the surfaces of substantially planar members  102  and  104 , such that a user can selectively cover or expose one or both channels  114  with a first substantially planar member  102 . In this embodiment, a user can keep the strap of a pair of goggles secured within device  100  while selectively exposing at least one elongated flexible member  108 . In other embodiments, a single channel  114  can be adapted to accommodate both a goggle strap and at least one elongated flexible member  108  at the same time. 
         [0017]    At least one side of said elongated flexible member  108  can be coupled with at least one set of complementary fastening components  110 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , two elongated flexible members  108  can be coupled with a set of complementary fastening components  110  such that said elongated flexible members  108  can removably attach to each other. As shown in  FIG. 1A , in another embodiment device  100  can have one elongated flexible member  108 , both sides of which can be coupled with a set of complementary fastening components  110  such that the ends of said elongated flexible member  108  can removably attach to each other. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows said fastening regions  106  as being connected to said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  along an edge opposite the edge where the substantially planar members  102  and  104  are connected to each other. In an alternate embodiment, at least one fastening region  106  can be integral with the material of at least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104 . In other embodiments said fastening regions  106  can be connected at any other known and/or convenient location on said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , an alternate embodiment of the device  100  can have just one substantially planar member  102  having an upper surface and a lower surface. Said substantially planar member  102  can connected to at least one fastening region  106 , such that one edge of the upper surface of a substantially planar member  102  can removably attach to the opposite edge of the lower surface of a substantially planar member  102 . In some embodiments, at least two edges of each of the upper and lower surfaces of a substantially planar member  102  can be connected to fastening regions  106 , such that opposite edges of the same surface can also removably attach to each other. 
         [0020]    In  FIG. 1 , said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  are rectangular. In alternate embodiments, said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In  FIG. 1 , the first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  are made of neoprene. In alternate embodiments, at least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can be made of any other known and/or convenient buoyant material, such that the entire device  100  can float in a body of water and can keep afloat a pair of goggles. In other embodiments, at least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can be made of or can be connected to an inflatable bladder  116 , whereby a user can selectively inflate the bladder  116  by blowing air into it, thereby making the device  100  buoyant. Said inflatable bladder  116  can be a single cell or can be comprised of a plurality of cells that inflate simultaneously. In yet other embodiments, said bladder  116  can be pre-filled either wholly or partially with a water-buoyant gas or liquid and sealed. 
         [0021]    Said fastening regions  106  and set of complementary fastening components  110  can be hook and loop, snaps, protrusion and aperture, or any other known and/or convenient fastening mechanisms. At least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can be connected to a piece of fluorescent material such that the device  100  can be easily spotted from a distance or in the dark. In alternate embodiments, at least one of said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  can be made of or integral with a piece of fluorescent material. A first substantially planar member  102  can also be a different color than a second substantially planar member  104 . In use, each device  100  of a set of devices  100  can have distinguishing colors and/or markings such that users can identify which device  100  belongs to each owner or each pair of goggles. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in use a user wraps first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  around a strap of a pair of goggles  200 . A user can then removably attach one edge of the lower surface of a first substantially planar member  102  to the upper surface of a second substantially planar member  104  via fastening regions  106 . At this stage, the device  100  can be removably attached to the strap of a pair of goggles  200 . A user can then wrap elongated flexible members  108  around a convenient object  202 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or a part of the user&#39;s body. A user can then removably attach said elongated flexible members  108  to each other via a set of complementary fastening components  110 , such that the device  100  is removably attached to both a pair of goggles  200  and a convenient object  202 . 
         [0023]    Alternatively, a user can tuck elongated flexible members  108  inside said first and second substantially planar members  102  and  104  while said substantially planar members  102  and  104  are wrapped around the strap of a pair of goggles  200 . In this manner, a user does not have to attach the elongated flexible members  108  to a convenient object  202 . Although a pair of goggles  200  would not be attached to a convenient object  202 , the device  100  could still keep a pair of goggles  200  afloat if they became separated from a user and landed in a body of water. 
         [0024]    Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.