Ornamental eyeglass retainer and necklace

Abstract

An ornamental eyeglass retainer and necklace for surrounding a user's neck to suspend a pair of eyeglasses or for wear about a user's neck, as an adornment. A pair of ornamental bodies each conceal one or more interconected rings within a vertical through bore. A transverse bar spans the through bore, at an upper end and passes through one of the rings, for retaining the ring in position. One of the rings protrudes from a lower end of the through bore for attaching a decorative neck surrounding cord or chain. The ring, at the upper end of the through bore, of each body, may be slideably engaged on each eyeglass temple and the cord or chain may be attached to a ring at the lower end of the through bore, on each body, to suspend the pair of eyeglasses. The ends of the cord or chain may be connected to form a necklace.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/513,229 filed: Oct. 22, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a combination ornamental eyeglass retainer and necklace. The invention particularly relates to an eyeglass retainer which securely attaches to an eyeglass temple, presents a pleasing appearance and is adapted to be worn as a necklace, as a user desires.

2. Description of the Background

Eyeglass retainers are typically constructed of a cord or chain which surrounds the user's neck. A fitting is provided at each end of the cord or chain for attaching each end to one of the temples on a pair of eyeglasses. While the eyeglasses are being worn, in the normal position for aiding sight, the cord or chain remains loosely draped around the back of the neck. When the eyeglasses are removed, the user may simply release them to dangle on the cord or chain. The use of an eyeglass retainer avoids the need to find a safe place to rest the eyeglasses, when they are not being worn and also avoids the possibility of misplacing them while the user is occupied with multiple papers or other work materials. In addition, the eyeglass retainer prevents the eyeglasses from being damaged, in the event that they are accidentally dislodged from the user's face.

The fittings for attaching the cord or chain to the eyeglass temples typically include an elastic ring of material such as rubber. The user passes each eyeglass temple through one of the rings and slides the rings to a suitable position along the length of the eyeglass temples. The rings are connected to the cord or chain by a suitable fastening means. Eyeglass retainers of this type are convenient and serviceable; however, they add a visually unattractive element to eyeglass frames, which are selected for their visual appeal in addition to their practical functionality. Efforts to produce eyeglass retainers having the necessary elements and a visually appealing look have focused on ways to conceal or decorate the elastic ring. Eyeglass retainers, with fastening means of sufficient size to conceal the elastic rings, tend to detract from the visual appeal of the eyeglass frames, while eyeglass retainers having fastening means of smaller size tend to leave the elastic rings in view, thus detracting from the visual appeal of the eyeglass retainer. There remains a need for an eyeglass retainer having the necessary functional elements and decorative elements combined in a novel article which conceals the elastic ring and does not detract from the decorative effect of the user's eyeglass frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an eyeglass retainer and necklace which is convenient and functional while presenting an attractive look. A cord or chain is provided for suspending a pair of eyeglasses about a user's neck. The cord or chain has a releasable fastener near each end for releasably attaching the cord or chain. One or more attachment assemblies are provided, which comprise a body having a generally vertical through bore. The body may be ornamental and/or may be decorated on an exterior surface. One or more interconnected loops are disposed partially within the through bore. At least one of the loops is formed of elastic material. The body is provided with a transverse bar, proximate to the upper end, spanning the through bore and passing through one loop of elastic material, for retaining the loop in position at the upper end of the body. The elastic loop may be grasped by a portion adjacent to the bar and slideably engaged on an eyeglass temple. A releasable fastener may be releasably attached to a loop, at the lower end of the body, for suspending the eyeglasses from the cord of chain. The body may be advanced to a position adjacent to the eyeglass temple by pulling the cord to retract the elastic loop into the through bore and out of sight. The releasable fastener may be attached to another releasable fastener to form a closed circuit of the cord or chain for wear as a necklace. The attachment assemblies may remain attached, when the article is worn as a necklace or they may be removed. Also, an additional ornament may be positioned along the length of cord of chain to add to the visual appeal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the attachment assembly engaged on an eyeglass temple for use as an eyeglass retainer.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the attachment assembly shown in phantom lines, to illustrate the configuration of the loops within.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cord with a releasable fastener.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cord with releasable fasteners interconnected and an ornament positioned along the length of the cord, for use as a necklace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a combination ornamental eyeglass retainer and necklace. The invention, deployed as an eyeglass retainer is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises an ornamental cord 10 which may be a decorative fabric cord or metal chain (not shown)and a pair of attachment assemblies 18. The cord 10 or chain has an end piece 12 terminating in an eye 14, as shown in FIG. 3, at each end. Releasable fastening means such as a fastener 16 is permanently linked to the eye 14, for releasably fastening the cord 10. Each attachment assembly 18 comprises a body 20 and one or more interconnected loops 22a-c shown in FIG. 2. The body 20 is provided with a generally vertical through bore. One or more interconnected loops 22a-c are disposed partially within the through bore. At least one of the loops 22 a is formed of elastic material. Rubber is a suitable elastic material but other materials having rubber content or other elastic materials may be substituted. Others of the loops 22b and c may be elastic material or they may be a non-elastic material such as metal wire or monofilament line. The loop 22b is shown as monofilament line and the loop 22c is shown as a metal ring, in FIG. 2.

The diameter of the through bore is selected to be sufficiently small that the elastic loop 22a frictionally engages the surface within the through bore. A novel transverse bar 24 spans the through bore proximate to an upper end and passes through an elastic one of the interconnected loops 22a. The transverse bar may be fixed in position by soldering, gluing or by other suitable means. One of the loops 22c is accessible at the lower end of the through bore, for connecting the fastener 16.

The cord 10 may be formed of a flaccid material such as nylon, cotton or silk, which may be woven or braided. It is intended that the material should be selected to be durable and attractive. A chain or wire may be substituted for the cord 10 to accomplish the same purpose. The end piece 12 may be a jewelry end cap with an eye 14. The end piece 12 may be attached to the cord 10 by crimping, knotting, fusing or other known means. An end piece 12 may be provided on a chain or wire by incorporating a ring as an end link, in a chain or by forming a loop at the end of a wire.

A lobster claw clasp is a suitable fastener 16, which may be permanently linked to end piece 12. The lobster claw clasp provides a convenient, unobtrusive spring loaded means for attaching the cord 10, as shown in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that each end of the cord 10 is to be provided with an end piece 12 and fastener 16. It is also to be understood that each eye glass temple would receive an attachment assembly 18, as shown in FIGS. 1-2.

In use, an attachment assembly 18 is to be slidably engaged on each eyeglass temple. An elastic one of the interconnected loops 22a would be grasped with the fingers, in the area adjacent to the transverse bar 24 and drawn outward to expose a portion of the loop 22a, which would be stretched over the end of an eyeglass temple and slideably engaged thereon. The procedure would be repeated to slideably engage another attachment assembly 18 on an opposite eyeglass temple. The body 20 may be positioned near to the eyeglass temple by drawing the cord 10 a small distance through the body 20. By positioning the body 20 near the eyeglass temple, a greater portion of the elastic loop 22a is concealed from view. The improvement, of the present invention, allows the elastic loop 22a to be concealed within the through bore of the body 20 and provides an attractive appearance without the addition of relatively large sized ornaments for obscuring the view of the elastic loop 22a. The user would suspend the pair of eyeglasses about his or her neck, by the cord 10.

The attachment assembly 18 may be removed from an eyeglass temple, by grasping the elastic one of said loops 22a and disengaging the eyeglass temple. Drawing the cord 10, with the eyeglass temple disengaged, will cause the elastic one of said loops 22a to retract into the body 20 and depend from the transverse bar 24 with a portion, adjacent to the transverse bar 24, exposed for grasping, by the user. The transverse bar 24 serves to retain the elastic loop 22a in an accessible position for grasping.

The body 20 may be formed in various ornamental shapes to suggest familiar or amusing subjects. Body 20 may also be decorated by etching, carving, surface coating or mounting external ornamentation on the body 20.

The invention deployed as a necklace is shown in FIG. 4. The elements of the invention are shown without the attachment assembly 18. In use, the fasteners 16 would be connected together to form a closed circuit of the cord 10 and the user would suspend the cord 10 about his or her neck. It is also anticipated that and ornament 26 would be positioned along the length of the cord 10.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A combination eyeglass retainer to suspend a pair of eyeglasses from a user's neck and, alternatively, or to wear as a necklace, comprising:

an ornamental cord terminating at both ends by a pair of end pieces, each of said end pieces having an eye;

a pair of releasable fasteners each permanently attached at one end to one of said end pieces and adapted at another end for selective coupling; and

an eyeglass attachment assembly, including, a body having a through-hole, and a transverse bar spanning an opening of said through hole; and at least one loop disposed partially inside the through hole of said body, said at least one loop being elastic and encircling said transverse bar;

whereby said combination eyeglass retainer/necklace may be attached to eyeglasses by inserting the elastic loop of said eyeglass attachment assemblies onto said eyeglasses to suspend said eyeglasses from a user's neck and, alternatively, worn as a necklace by removing said eyeglass attachment assemblies and attaching said pair of releasable fasteners together.

2. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 1, wherein said at least one loop comprises a plurality of interconnected loops.

3. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 2, wherein only one of said plurality of loops is elastic.

4. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 1, wherein the through-hole of said body is sized for frictional insertion of said at least one loop therein.

5. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 2, wherein one of said loops sits atop the transverse bar and is accessible by fingers at a top of said body, and another of said loops is accessible at a bottom of said body for connecting said releasable fastener.

6. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 1, wherein said cord comprises any one from among a group of nylon, cotton and silk.

7. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 6, wherein said cord is braided.

8. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 1, wherein said cord comprises a chain.

9. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 1, wherein said releasable fastener comprises a lobster claw clasp.