Abstract: An improved eyeglass retainer is disclosed, having annular closure attaching to the eyeglass frames. In an alternate embodiment, the closure comprises an elastic band that is only partially attached to the front portion of retainer, meaning that the retainer need not be tubular at the attachment point with elastic band. The invention is designed to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance and to maintain a close fit of the retainer material with the eyeglass frames, even in the presence of winds and inertial forces. In alternate embodiments, the closure in combination with protuberances located on the eyeglass temple pieces secures the retainer to the temple pieces. The protuberances may be integral with the eyeglass frames, or may be separately attached.

Abstract: An improved eyeglass retainer is disclosed, having annular closure attaching to the eyeglass frames. In an alternate embodiment, the closure comprises an elastic band that is only partially attached to the front portion of retainer, meaning that the retainer need not be tubular at the attachment point with elastic band. The invention is designed to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance and to maintain a close fit of the retainer material with the eyeglass frames, even in the presence of winds and inertial forces. In alternate embodiments, the closure in combination with protuberances located on the eyeglass temple pieces secures the retainer to the temple pieces. The protuberances may be integral with the eyeglass frames, or may be separately attached.

Abstract: A backpack for carrying bulky, heavy footwear such as inline skates, conventional roller skates, ice skates or ski boots is provided. Preferably, a backpack for carrying inline skates is provided. According to the invention, the backpack includes a left and right opposed footwear compartments. The left and right compartments are angularly joined together at the front base portion of the compartments to form an isosceles triangle there between. The joined right and left compartments define a portion of the front face of the backpack. The compartments have a sufficient height for receipt of the blade portion of a skate and/or of the top portion of a bulky boot, for example, a ski boot. In addition, the compartments have a sufficient depth to receive the blade portion of a skate. In one improvement, the footwear compartments are L-shaped and nested such that the ankle-receiving portion of one compartment is situated above the ankle receiving portion of the other compartment.

Abstract: A backpack for carrying bulky, heavy footwear such as inline skates, conventional roller skates, ice skates or ski boots is provided. Preferably, a backpack for carrying inline skates is provided. According to the invention, the backpack includes a left and right opposed footwear compartments. The left and right compartments are angularly joined together at the front base portion of the compartments to form an isosceles triangle therebetween. The joined right and left compartments define a portion of the front face of the backpack. The compartments have a sufficient height for receipt of the blade portion of a skate and/or of the top portion of a bulky boot, for example, a ski boot. In addition, the compartments have a sufficient depth to receive the blade portion of a skate. An improvement is presented in which the footwear compartments are L-shaped and nested such that the ankle-receiving potion of one compartment is situated above the ankle receiving portion of the other compartment.

Abstract: A backpack for carrying bulky, heavy footwear such as inline skates, conventional roller skates, ice skates or ski boots is provided. Preferably a backpack for carrying inline skates is provided.According to the invention, the backpack includes left and right opposed trapezoidal compartments. These compartments have a generally trapezoidal side face, a generally rectangular back face and a narrow width. The left and right trapezoidal compartments are angularly joined together at the front base portion of the compartments to form an isosceles triangle therebetween. The joined right and left trapezoidal compartments define a portion of the front face of the backpack. A piece of luggage material such as tight weave nylon is used to complete the front of the backpack by closing off the top of the area between the left and right trapezoidal compartments. The left and right trapezoidal compartments are rather narrow and in fact are only wide enough to receive the narrow part of a boot or skate.