Device for retaining on a worn garment or any other type of support a pair of spectacles for safe keeping in extreme conditions

Abstract

The present invention is a device, in particular for retaining a pair of spectacles on a garment that is being worn or a support of any kind. The device maintains a structure with a means for retaining the garment or support and a hollow projection at each end of the structure through which the bows of the spectacles are inserted. One of the hollow projections is provided with a closed orifice intended to receive one bow of the pair of spectacles by threading it therein. The other of the hollow projections has a selectively operable lateral opening mechanism that receives and locks in disconnectable immobilizing means in the hollow projection at least one bow of the said pair of spectacles.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/FR02/02487, and is related to and claims the benefit of priority from French Patent 01 09364, filed on Jul. 13, 2001, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a device for retaining a pair of spectacles on a garment that is being worn or any other type of support for safekeeping in extreme conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Spectacles are traditionally secured with the aid of a cord placed around the neck and connected to the bow(s) of the spectacles, which makes said pair of spectacles mobile and uncontrollable, with the risk of impeding and injuring the user.

[0004] One technique consists in inserting one bow of a folded pair of spectacles vertically into a gap in a garment that is being worn, which retains said pair of spectacles but does not eliminate the risk of losing them, especially when bending over.

[0005] Certain accessories such as a case, in which a pair of spectacles can be placed, can be put into a pocket of a garment that is being worn, with the risk of inconveniencing the user because of its bulk and without eliminating the risk of loss if the wearer is occasionally separated from the garment.

[0006] One particular spectacles holder device has a plane face that bears on a garment and the rear of the plane face is characterized by a spiral-shaped fixed pin parallel to said plane face; the end of the pin is sharp and pierces the garment to retain the device; the spectacles holder is characterized by a hoop fixed transversely to the front face, enabling one bow of a pair of spectacles to be threaded into it, which does not eliminate the risk of the spectacles swinging around, the possible separation of the bows if the wearer bends over, and the risk of losing said pair of spectacles if the user finds himself in a position reversing the direction of gravity with respect to the initial position of the pair of spectacles.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The device of the invention remedies these drawbacks. It is particularly advantageous in use if the wearer wishes to protect a pair of spectacles for a particular period of non-use whilst keeping them readily available on a garment that is being worn, with the function of preventing their untimely detachment. This is in order to guard against any such mishaps as losing the spectacles, forgetting them, etc. According to a first feature, the device includes a structure including means for attachment to said garment and, at each end of the front face of the structure, a hollow projection through each of which the bows of the spectacles are inserted, a single one of the projections having a lockable lateral opening for swinging the bows into position.

[0008] The structure is characterized by two main portions linked at the top and having between them a passage into which is inserted a thickness of garment that is gripped by an attachment mechanism operated by the user, and is characterized in that said attachment mechanism comprises an articulated tongue received in a cavity in one of the two portions and having a tip that pierces the garment. In the closed position, the tongue is immobilized by two small lateral studs. Said cavity has a portion that is not occupied by the tongue and widened to allow unlocking.

[0009] One of the projections has a closed orifice adapted to receive one bow of the pair of spectacles threaded therein, characterized in that said projection situated in the upper portion has a tapered profile in its top portion, producing a thinner portion at the end of said projection, with the aim of enabling directed positioning of the pair of spectacles.

[0010] The locking device of the lateral opening relating to the other hollow projection consists in disconnectable locking means causing said front face of the structure and said hollow projection to cooperate, being additionally adapted to assure final locking of at least one bow of the pair of spectacles.

[0011] In particular embodiments:

[0012] For placing it on a rigid support, the device may have a suitable member on the rear face of the structure that is adhesive, magnetized, of the hook and loop type, etc.

[0013] Reducing moldings can be inserted into the hollow projections to receive thinner bows.

[0014] Thin flexible materials can be provided inside the hollow projections or elsewhere to prevent scratching on coming into contact with the pair of spectacles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] One embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts the device of the invention from the front, during the first phase of inserting a pair of spectacles.

[0017] FIG. 2 depicts the device from the front during the second phase of inserting a pair of spectacles.

[0018] FIG. 3 depicts the locked device from the front during the third and final phase of inserting a pair of spectacles.

[0019] FIG. 4 depicts the profile of the locked device during the third phase of inserting a pair of spectacles.

[0020] FIG. 5 depicts the device from the front in the open position.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a plan view in section of the lower portion of the device of the invention in the open position.

[0022] FIG. 7 shows in section the profile of the device in the open position.

[0023] FIG. 8 depicts the device from the front in the closed position.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a plan view in section of the lower portion of the device of the invention in the closed position.

[0025] FIG. 10 represents in section the profile of the device in the closed position.

[0026] FIG. 11 shows to a larger scale the face of the central portion of the device of the invention relating to the locking mechanism, in the open position.

[0027] FIG. 12 represents to a larger scale the section of the profile of the central portion of the device relating to the locking mechanism, in the open position.

[0028] FIG. 13 represents to a larger scale the section of the profile of the central portion of the device relating to the locking mechanism, in the closed position.

[0029] FIG. 14 depicts from the front a variant of the device of the invention in the closed position.

[0030] FIG. 15 is a plan view in half-section of the lower portion of the variant device in the closed position.

[0031] FIG. 16 represents the variant device in profile in the closed position.

[0032] FIG. 17 is a plan view in half-section of the lower portion of the variant device in the open position.

[0033] FIG. 18 depicts from the front a variant of the device of the invention in the closed position.

[0034] FIG. 19 is a plan view in half-section of the lower portion of the variant device in the closed position.

[0035] FIG. 20 represents the profile of the device of the invention in the closed position.

[0036] FIG. 21 is a plan view in half-section of the lower portion of the variant device in the open position.

[0037] FIG. 22 is a profile view of the lower portion of the device of the invention in the closed position and to a larger scale, showing an improvement of the variant.

[0038] FIG. 23 is a plan view in section and to a larger scale of the lower portion of the variant device of the invention in the closed position.

[0039] FIG. 24 represents in profile a variant of the device of the invention in the closed position.

[0040] FIG. 25 represents the posterior face of the variant device.

[0041] FIG. 26 depicts from the front a variant of the device of the invention in the closed position and holding a pair of spectacles.

[0042] FIG. 27 depicts from the front the variant device of the invention in the closed position.

[0043] FIG. 28 represents in profile the side of the lockable hollow projection of the variant device in the closed position.

[0044] FIG. 29 represents the profile of the side of the hollow projection of the variant device having the closed orifice.

[0045] FIG. 30 is a plan view of the variant device in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Referring to the above drawings, the device includes a structure having, from the front, a rectangular elongate shape made up of, in a flat main portion, the face (1), connected by an upper portion to a parallel posterior and flat portion (9) (except for FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17). The front portion (1) and the rear portion (9) are therefore separated by a narrow lateral space (8) over practically the whole of their length, of inverted U-shaped profile. This space (8) is adapted to have a thickness of garment inserted into it.

[0047] A variant shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the space (8) adapted to have the garment inserted into it consists in the two main flat portions (1,9) lying one against the other at their joined ends, precisely where the garment is inserted.

[0048] The rear portion (9) is slightly lengthened at this same end to allow the structure (1,9) to be engaged over said garment that is being worn by, in a first time period, hooking the rear portion (9) inside and behind the thickness of the garment that is being worn. Said lengthened end of said portion (9), once inserted behind said garment that is being worn, necessitates in a second time period, the user to pull on the lower portion of the front main portion (1), i.e. on the lockable hollow projection (4), thereby creating by elasticity a gap at said end of the flat portions (1,9), thus opening the space (8) adapted to have the garment inserted into it.

[0049] In a third time period the user pushes the device of the invention onto said garment, which is therefore gripped by virtue of the structure (1,9) returning to its original position (FIG. 16) before being locked by the tongue (5).

[0050] Among other improvements, the thickness of the flat rear portion (9) of the structure (1,9), FIG. 16, is reduced by a long taper on its rear face, said taper beginning approximately in the first third of the lower portion of said rear portion (9), and therefore opposite the junction of the portions (1,9), and becoming thinner in this same third as far as the end of the portion (9).

[0051] This improvement allows improved insertion behind said garment, which is inserted into the space (8).

[0052] The structure is immobilized on the garment by a locking system situated in the lower portion of the middle of the main front portion (1), FIG. 5, from which the device shown in detail in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 differs by a rectangular cavity positioned longitudinally and into which is inserted a tongue (5) the same thickness as the portion (1) exposing from the front, within the contours of said tongue (5), a very small empty space to facilitate articulation. Said tongue (5), centered in the direction of the width of the front portion (1), has in its lower portion, and in the direction of its width, and thus horizontally, a pivot pin (54) passing through it that is fixed to the main front portion (1).

[0053] The pin (54) causes the tongue (5) to pivot when the user pushes with a circular motion in the direction of the rear portion (9).

[0054] A perpendicular point (53) on the axis of the top portion of the tongue (5), facing the rear portion (9), pierces the garment inserted into the space (8), and is accommodated in a short groove (10) whose width is substantially identical to the diameter of the point (53) and whose axis is within the width of the rear portion (9).

[0055] Once in the closed position, FIGS. 8 and 10, the tongue (5) is wedged into its cavity by two small lateral studs (56), FIG. 8, positioned on each shorter side of the upper portion of the tongue (5), said small studs (56) having a short cylindrical section rounded at their ends interengaging at the end of travel during the locking operation in short grooves (57) in both lateral walls of the cavity. Said walls are parallel to and face said sides of the tongue (5) on which said studs (56) are disposed. Said two short grooves (57) start from the side of the front of the main portion (1), cooperate in their trajectories and in their shapes and substantially identical dimensions, with a significant wedging effect when the ends of said studs (56) come into contact during this movement. At the end of the swinging travel of the tongue (5) on closing, said tongue (5) is halted by co-operation of the end of the groove (57) with said studs (56), causing the tongue (5) and the main front portion (1) to be positioned in the same alignment, precisely as shown in the FIG. 13 profile view. In this final stopped position, the ends of the studs (56) are freed from the significant wedging effect imposed by the trajectory of the groove (57), to be accommodated into two very small concave spaces substantially identical to said ends of the small studs (56), which are again in abutting engagement and are directed in this arrangement resulting in temporary immobilization of the tongue (5).

[0056] Furthermore, other methods within the scope of the invention could utilize other embodiments of the abutment and wedging means.

[0057] With the system locked, said cavity situated in the main portion (1) is characterized in its upper portion by a sufficiently widened space (51), preferably of semi-oval shape, FIG. 11, for the user to be able to pull the tongue (5), made thinner at this location by a taper (52) within the thickness of the upper portion of the tongue (5), with the front of said taper (52) directed toward the rear portion (9) of the structure (1,9), FIG. 13. This is to facilitate hooking with the aim of removing the device of the invention.

[0058] In the locking system of the structure (1,9), among other improvements, a long projecting rim (58) of triangular lateral section can be provided, flanking the inside wall of the cavity in which the tongue (5) is installed. Said rim disposed parallel to the pivot pin (54) of said tongue (5), and on the edge of the wall of the side situated toward the front of the main portion (1), halts opening of the tongue (5), immobilizing it when opened to an angle of approximately 50°, FIG. 12, starting from its closed position, FIG. 13, to prevent the perpendicular point (53) on the tongue (5) taking up a position at least parallel to the main front portion (1), and thereby representing a risk of injury to the user, FIG. 7.

[0059] Referring to drawing sheets 1 and 2, the pair of spectacles (3) is positioned by threading in the longitudinal direction into a first hollow rectangular projection (2) having a closed orifice and situated on the main front portion (1) in the upper portion, adapted for the insertion of a separated bow (FIG. 1); the appearance of said projection (2) is characterized in that its upper portion has a taper thinning its profile, resulting at the end of the projection (2) in a thinner portion, FIG. 4, with the aim of allowing directed positioning of the pair of spectacles (3) during its final positioning in the orifice of the projection (2), FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0060] Once the bow has been threaded through and the pair of spectacles (3) folded up, positioned at an angle, FIG. 2, the two united bows of said pair of spectacles (3) are positioned in another hollow rectangular projection (4), disposed in the same alignment as the projection (2) and situated in the lower portion of the main portion (1), whose lockable lateral opening (7), FIGS. 6 and 9, serves as a passage into which the two branches are swung laterally so that they are inserted into the projection (4), so as to be retained after locking in the same alignment as the structure (1,9), FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0061] The lateral opening (7) of this hollow projection (4) of the lower portion is locked by means of a cavity situated at the end of the wall parallel to the main portion (1) into which is inserted an L-shaped lever (6) perpendicular to said wall, FIG. 4, articulated about a pivot pin fixed in the wall, FIG. 6.

[0062] By the user pushing the lever (6) back toward the main portion (1), the end of the lever (6) engages in a thinner region (11) formed in the main front portion (1), FIG. 9, by virtue of elastic deformation of the advanced wall of the hollow projection (4), which at the end of the travel of said lever (6) resumes its original position because the end of the lever (6), in the locking position, is abuttingly engaged in a recess disposed in the thinner region (11). Said concave recess substantially identical to said end of the lever (6) of complementary convex shape, FIG. 9, clamps the two bows of the pair of spectacles in the middle, FIG. 4.

[0063] The pair of spectacles (3) placed in the device of the invention therefore prevents the mechanism for immobilizing the structure (1,9), characterized by the tongue (5), from being unlocked, by virtue of the positioning of the bows, FIG. 4, which are in front of said tongue (5) and therefore immobilize it, thereby effecting double locking.

[0064] The L-shaped lever (6) of the projection (4) is unlocked, in order to remove the pair of spectacles (3), by the user pulling on the portion opposite the end of said lever (6), built into the thinner region (11) of the main front portion (1), FIG. 9.

[0065] One feature of the device of the invention with this embodiment of the mechanism of the lateral opening previously described, FIGS. 6 and 9, is to enable the structure (1,9) to be hooked on and the pair of spectacles (3) to be positioned and locked, FIGS. 3 and 4, with only one hand.

[0066] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment previously described.

[0067] Thus the embodiment of the locking means of the hollow projection (4) can be implemented amongst other things in a variant that will be described hereinafter, represented by FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17. In a format and position of said hollow projection 4 similar to the original version, FIG. 8, a short perpendicular wall (13), FIG. 16, at the edge of the front of the main part (1), disposed in the longitudinal direction and therefore at the end of the width and the length of the front portion (1) of the structure (1,9), FIGS. 15 and 16, has at its end, as seen in its profile view, a cavity of rectangular shape in a direction parallel to the structure (1,9) and centered in said short wall (13), consequently leaving two superposed and identical projecting advanced portions (18). Said two projecting portions (18) are flat in profile and rounded at their end, as seen in plan view, FIG. 15, to allow the articulation with the other portion constituting the locking mechanism of the lateral opening of the passage (7) of the hollow projection (4), FIG. 17. A long tongue (14), FIG. 15, constituting the other opposite part, allowing the locking of the spectacle bows (3) by articulation, represents said tongue (14) of elongate rectangular shape in its front view, FIG. 14, one end of which, by virtue of an abrupt step, is at right angles, and thus perpendicular to the interior face of the tongue (14), FIG. 15, and parallel to the short wall (13) and has at that location the portion where the opening of the passage (7) is effected at the time of the articulation, FIG. 17, of which the end of said angular wall facing the lateral end of the front of the portion (1), takes up a position in its locking shape by engaging in a notch disposed in said front portion (1), FIG. 15, in a conformation of substantially identical complementary shapes causing the end of the tongue (14) and the edge of the front part (1) where the notch is disposed to co-operate. There area also on this same interior face of the tongue (14), in the two thirds opposite this angular and parallel end, and thus perpendicular to said length of the tongue (14), two superposed lugs (17) having rounded ends in plan view, leaving between them a space intended to receive a spring (15), FIG. 16. The shapes of the two lugs (17) interengage in the rectangular cavity in the wall (13) opposite and facing said lugs (17).

[0068] Once this operation has been carried out, it suffices to adjust in the same vertical alignment, FIG. 16, and therefore in this order—projecting projection (18), lug (17), spring (15), lug (17), projecting projection (18)—in order to unite them in the middle and by drilling with a pivot pin fixed between the two projecting projections (18), leaving the lugs (17) of the mobile tongue (14) articulated about the pin, whilst having previously positioned the spring (15) accordingly so that said spring (15) exerts its force toward a locking position concerning the tongue (14) FIG. 15.

[0069] This operation of the spring (15), shown in detail to a larger scale in FIG. 23, is effected by virtue of the fact that one of the two ends of the spring (15) will be pressed against the interior wall of the remaining third of the tongue (14), said remaining tongue remaining intended to serve as a lever.

[0070] The other end of said spring (15) is curved at an angle so as to be able to hook up said end of the spring and press it against the outside of the short wall (13). Thus disposed in torsion, the spring (15) is therefore in a position to exert a tension on opening the passage (7) to insert the spectacle bows (3) by the user exerting pressure on the remaining third of the tongue (14), that is to say the lever portion. The mechanism of the spring (15) then allows the user to remove his pressure to cause the tongue (14) to return to and be held in its original closing position, FIG. 15, and thus to lock the spectacle bows (3).

[0071] The locking closure of the passage (7) can additionally be complemented by arrangements obtained by providing, as in the examples represented in FIGS. 19 and 22, for the notch provided in the front portion (1) to receive the end of the tongue (14) to be replaced by a cavity allowing the end of the previously extended angular portion of said tongue (14) strike the posterior portion (9) and thereby clamp and immobilize the garment that is being worn, providing additional locking onto said garment.

[0072] In this embodiment a plurality of presentations concerning the end of the tongue (14) can be used, including among others two versions, the first of which has over the whole of the length of the end of the tongue (14) and parallel to the front portion (1) a projecting taper, FIG. 19.

[0073] In accordance with the same principle, the other, and slightly more complex embodiment, FIG. 22, provides in a similar disposition with an arrangement of the end in a triangular shape and tapered in its thickness, centered and installed on a portion of the end of the tongue (14), consequently leaving in its profile view two abutment stop edges that with said triangular end are of complementary conformation substantially identical to the cavity of the front portion (1), allowing to pass only the extreme tip of the tapered triangular portion that will prick the inserted garment.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 19, 21 and 23, an improvement consists in orienting said lever slightly in a direction opposite to the structure (1,9), in order to facilitate the amplitude of the opening of the lateral passage (7), at the time of the push exerted by the user on the remaining third of the tongue (14), serving as a lever.

[0075] Different embodiments of this lockable hollow projection (14) having a lateral opening (7) can furthermore be used, in particular by clipping the spectacle bows (3).

[0076] Given the original positioning of the structure (1,9) suited to a preferred vertical use, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, of the device of the invention and of a pair of spectacles (3) held in the same vertical direction by said device, it can be positioned horizontally on a garment that is being worn, resulting in a horizontal positioning of the pair of spectacles (3), which is possible in this holding mode in this position, not shown, but is not very effective at securing between the structure (1,9) and the garment that is being worn, given that the insertion over said garment can be effected only by a lateral horizontal threading of the garment into the space (8) of the device, which is immobilized by the tongue (5) on said garment, which must be offered up vertically for this form of hooking.

[0077] In contrast to the adaptation of this same embodiment of the device of the invention to any other kind of support, in particular one that is rigid and in said horizontal position, positioning the lateral opening (7) of the hollow projection (4) toward the top, wherein the structure (1,9) can be held by adding an intermediate portion (shown vertically in FIGS. 24 and 25), preferably of flat rectangular shape (12), fitted to the rear face of the posterior portion (9) of said structure (1,9) by gluing, molding or otherwise, serving as a junction between said device and said rigid support, which are united by said intermediate portion (12) whose exterior side is applied in adhesive, magnetized, hook and loop, etc. fashion, thereby allowing attachment to all kinds of support.

[0078] This is achieved by replacing the inverted U-shape of the structure (1,9), not used in this situation, of which the retaining role of said U-shape and its main original function of retention on a garment that is being worn, as described in the preceding situation, will have become secondary or of no utility.

[0079] It furthermore and nevertheless remains to consider that the structure (1,9) could encompasss other modifications or methods of securing the device of the invention to all kinds of support (whilst remaining within the context of the device of the invention).

[0080] This is why, for improved effectiveness, one embodiment, more suited to concrete improvement of horizontal retention of said structure (1,9) on a garment that is being worn, will be described hereinafter for this precise situation, introducing a few adaptation modifications shown by FIGS. 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

[0081] It suffices for implementing this embodiment, positioning the device of the invention and consequently the pair of spectacles (3) horizontally, firstly to modify (invert) the inverted U-shape of the space provided for inserting the garment in a direction perpendicular to the original description of the device, FIG. 8, said inverted U-shape thereafter being positioned over the whole of the left-hand side of the upper portion of said structure, FIG. 30, the insertion of the garment being effected from the bottom, FIG. 28, of course. Previously transforming the general appearance of the structure (1,9) in its front view by a sufficient increase of its original width, only between the two hollow projections (2,4) FIG. 27, facilitates improved retention of said structure (1,9) onto a garment that is being worn, but also creates a sufficient margin to be able, secondly, to position the complete locking mechanism of the structure (1;9) on the garment. Thanks to this widening said mechanism is, as seen in front view, perpendicular to its original position and displaced along the axis between the two hollow projections (2,4), FIG. 27, said locking mechanism thereby always remaining vertical despite the horizontal structure (1,9) of this variant.

[0082] Thirdly, the hollow projections (2,4) previously cited remain positioned on the structure (1,9) exactly as in the original FIG. 8 embodiment, whilst retaining exactly the same characteristics as established in their original description, that is to say said hollow projections (2,4) positioned at each end of the structure (1,9) on the front of the main face portion (1), always in the same alignment on a horizontal line, of which the lockable lateral opening (7) of the projection (4) is directed upward, FIG. 28. In FIGS. 27 and 30, representing this embodiment, the length of the structure (1,9) has been shortened. For improved positioning of the pair of spectacles (3) in this embodiment, FIG. 26, it is preferable to center it on the device, resulting in the retention of only one bow in each hollow projection (2,4).

[0083] In a variant that is not shown in the figures because this could impede a good understanding of the drawings, reducers with different profiles and molded in one piece can be fitted by wedging, gluing or otherwise to the interior of the walls of the two passages of the projecting portions (2,4), espousing the particular shapes of said projections (2,4) in order to reduce them in size to facilitate, among other things, the retention of very thin bows. Moreover, said reducers can be made with varied dimensions and shapes and can even be molded directly into the structure of the device of the invention during its fabrication, conforming to designs of identified spectacle bows necessitating specific receiving moldings.

[0084] Alternatively, a panel with a few standard orifice dimensions of the hollow projections (2,4) could be used, preferably rectangular, as shown in the figures, thereby suited to a maximum of spectacle bows of all kinds and also able to receive said reducers in said hollow projections (2,4), the common nesting portions of which are standardized. The reducers themselves are provided with specific moldings for receiving each design of spectacle bows. Said reducers can be made from all types of materials such as, by way of nonlimiting example, plastic, rubber, expanded foam, encompassing any material of the respective type, with the aim of addressing all types and dimensions of spectacles. In the same mode of adaptation described hereinbefore, and only in the precise case of using flexible materials previously cited, such as expanded foam, rubber or otherwise, a further detail deserves to be mentioned. A complementary role of said flexible reducers will be assigned with the aim of preventing any rubbing causing scratching of or other damage to the pair of spectacles (3) when bringing it into contact with the hollow projections (2,4) of the device of the invention, said flexible reducers improving comfort by improving the damping of vibrations, for example during a running race.

[0085] In accordance with the same principle of protection previously described, preventing harmful rubbing of the pair of spectacles (3) in contact with the structure (1,9), in this other embodiment the flexible reducers are eliminated by providing their characteristics in the hollow projections (2,4), accomplishing a role of wedging the pair of spectacles (3), as in the preceding embodiment.

[0086] Because, in the locking embodiment chosen of the mechanism of the hollow projection (4) having a lateral passage (7), in particular in the embodiment concerning the example of the tongue (14) and of the spring (15), this is sufficient to hold said pair of spectacles (3) fixedly on the structure (1,9).

[0087] A small but possibly variable thickness of the flexible material again covers the interior of the walls of the hollow projections (2,4), the reducers or other portions of the structure of the invention necessitating the elimination of a direct contact with the pair of spectacles (3), in accordance with the same principle of placing the flexible material on the structure (1,9), with the aim of protecting said pair of spectacles against scratching whilst obtaining the benefit of improved comfort by damping vibrations.

[0088] By way of nonlimiting example, the structure will have dimensions of the order of 1.8 cm for the width, 1.5 cm for the overall thickness, and 8 cm for the length. The device is preferably made of plastic material.

[0089] The structure of the device of the invention represented here by way of nonlimiting illustration can encompass different, diverse and varied shapes, with different dimensions and proportions that can be designed with any type of materials allowing its implementation, including more particularly plastic material, designating all materials relating to that type.

[0090] The device of the invention is particularly intended for preventing loss of pairs of spectacles of all kinds by retaining them in any position and in an extreme situation.

Claims

1. A device in particular for retaining a pair of spectacles on a garment that is being worn or a support of any kind, said device comprising:

a structure having a means for retaining said garment or support of any kind and a hollow projection at each end of said structure through which the bows of said spectacles are inserted, one of which hollow projections is provided with a closed orifice intended to receive one bow of said pair of spectacles by threading it thereinto, and the other of which hollow projections has a selectively operable lateral opening mechanism that receives and locks in disconnectable immobilizing means in said hollow projection at least one bow of said pair of spectacles.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said structure comprises two connected portions and a passage between them through into which a thickness of garment is inserted and immobilized by fixing means.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein said fixing means comprise an attachment mechanism operable by a user and comprising an articulated tongue engaged in a cavity of one of said two portions and provided with a tip that pierces said garment in a closed position, said tongue being wedged by two small lateral studs in abutting engagement in grooves receiving said small studs.

4. The device claimed in claim 3 wherein said cavity has a portion that is unoccupied by said tongue and is widened to allow unlocking of said tongue which, in the unlocked position, is stopped by a projecting edge limiting its opening.

5. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said lateral opening mechanism of said hollow projection includes a lever operable by a user, articulated in a cavity situated in said projection and having a lateral opening, the end of said lever engaging in a receiving region of said structure in said locking position.

6. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said lateral opening mechanism of said hollow projection includes a tongue operable by a user and articulated in a cavity in a portion of said structure and forcibly pressed down by a spring that forcibly holds down said tongue in said locking position.

7. The device claimed in claim 6 wherein the end of said tongue containing the opening of said passage and facing said front portion of said structure is extended and in said locking position passes through said front portion, previously formed by a cavity, and strikes the posterior portion, thereby passing through said space and wedging said garment, said end being able to encompass different shapes.

8. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said structure has within its thickness a taper that thins its end.

9. The device claimed in claims 2 and 8, wherein the end of one of said two portions of said structure is slightly extended and pressed against the other portion, provided that the material constituting said device can withstand elastic deformation, thereby allowing insertion of a garment.

10. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one hollow projection has a skew intended to direct the pair of spectacles.

11. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein a member fitted to said structure includes means for retaining it on a support other than the inverted U-shape of said structure.

12. The device claimed in claim 1 including reducing moldings, made of hard or flexible materials for bows of all sorts, in particular very thin bows, which reducing moldings can be fitted into the hollow projections or incorporated directly in said projections, enabling firmer retention of said spectacle bows.