Eyeglass purse

Abstract

A purse having a central compartment for storing eyeglasses when they are not being worn with additional compartments and zippered side pockets for storing other items and an adjustable strap, allowing the user to wear it.

Description

BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE

People who wear eyeglasses intermittently, for example only for reading, are constantly putting on and removing their glasses. A significant problem for many people in this situation is removing their eyeglasses, placing them somewhere, and then forgetting where the eyeglasses were placed, thus not being able to find them. Much time and effort is expended searching for lost eyeglasses, not to mention the replacement cost for glasses that are never found. Additionally, eyeglasses may be broken if they are merely placed in a pocket or placed where they are exposed to the risk of damage. Therefore, the need exists for a convenient and compact way to store eyeglasses when they are not being worn so that they are easily retrievable and protected from loss and breakage.

Although there are presently cases available for eyeglasses, most lack means to be carried about on one's person, and thus are as susceptible to loss as the glasses themselves. Furthermore, those eyeglass cases that do provide means for the user to carry them about—for example a belt clip—only have a compartment for the eyeglasses, forcing the user to keep other items in an additional purse or bag.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

A novel compact purse stores eyeglasses when they are not being worn. In addition to providing a compartment to store eyeglasses, additional compartments are provided to store other items and the purse may be carried about on the user's person to prevent the purse and the eyeglasses from becoming lost or misplaced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of specific embodiments thereof and the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example only and not intending to be limiting, the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the exterior of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts the interior features of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the exterior of an alternative embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts interior features of alternative embodiments.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment with interior pockets showing the vertical side closure opened.

FIG. 6 depicts a detailed view of the cord lock.

FIG. 7 depicts a detailed view of the strap retaining loop and cord lock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, shown generally in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the purse 10 has a front side 12 and a back side 14 defining an interior compartment 16. The front side 12 and back side 14 are joined together along their side edges and bottom edges, typically by stitching or other suitable means. Attached to the purse near the top of each side edge is a strap 18. The strap length may be adjusted by means of a cord lock 40, or the strap may be of fixed length.

The top edges of the front side 12 and the back side 14 are not joined together providing a top opening 22 through which to access the interior compartment 16. Closing means 24, such as a snap, magnetic snap, hook-and-loop fastener (e.g. VELCRO®), zipper or other suitable closure may be used to close the top opening 24 to prevent the contents of the interior compartment 16 from falling out, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. In the alternative, no closing means need be provided such that the interior compartment 16 remains open.

Within the interior compartment 16, and located below the top opening 22, is a central compartment 26. The central compartment 26 consists of fabric dividers that prevent the eyeglasses contained within from becoming scratched.

The central compartment 26 also separates the interior compartment 16 into the front interior compartment 16a, the central compartment 26, and the rear interior compartment 16b. Thus, while the eyeglasses are stored in the central compartment 26, the front and rear interior compartments 16a and 16b provide additional space to store other items.

A vertical side closure 28, such as a zipper or other suitable closure, may be provided along one of the pairs of side edges of the front side 12 and back side 14 instead of permanently joining those side edges. The vertical zipper 28 or other closure provides access to two interior pockets 30, 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the liner of the interior compartment 16 acts as a divider for the two pockets and separates the interior pockets 30, 32 from the interior compartment 16.

In one embodiment, the strap 18 is typically about 44 inches long. However, it is understood that the strap may vary in length. In another embodiment, the strap 18 is of adjustable length. A cord lock 40 is provided to allow the user to adjust the strap to a desired length by pulling the strap 18 through said cord lock 40.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cord lock 40, has a body 42, a plunger 44, and a spring 46. The body 42 has a cavity into which the spring 46 and the plunger 44 are placed. Through the body are a first body aperture 48, and a second body aperture 50. Through the plunger, and corresponding to the body apertures are a first plunger aperture 52, and a second plunger aperture 54.

The spring 46 provides an upward force on the plunger 44. A downward force is applied to the plunger 44 until the body apertures 48, 50 and the plunger apertures 52, 54 are aligned. The strap 18 is then fed through the apertures in a serpentine manner, as shown in FIG. 6. Releasing the downward force on the plunger 44 allows the spring 46 to move the plunger 44 upward, pinching the strap 18 between the body 42 and the plunger 44, thus securing the strap 18 in place.

To shorten the strap 18, the user presses down on the plunger 44 in the cord lock 40 releasing the strap 18. The user then pulls the strap 18 through the cord lock 40 until the strap 18 is of the desired length. Finally, the user releases the plunger 44 securing the strap 18 at the desired length.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, a strap retaining loop 60 is provided within the interior compartment 16. The strap retaining loop 60 is attached within the interior compartment 16 by means of stitching or by other suitable means. In this embodiment, the cord lock 40 is moved adjacent to the point where the strap 18 is connected to the purse 10. The strap 18 is fed through the cord lock 40 and then through the strap retaining loop 60. The cord lock 40 is thus positioned within the interior compartment 16. The advantage to this embodiment is that the strap 18 may be shortened by pulling it through the cord lock 40 and the extra slack from the shortened strap 18 may be neatly stored within the interior compartment 16 of the purse 10.

The purse 10 may be made of any suitable material to provide flexibility and protection. For example, the purse may be made of fabric, leather, plastic, vinyl, rubber, etc. Also, the purse 10 may be decorated by painting, beading embroidery, silk-screening, or other ornamental devices.

The purse 10 may be of any suitable size or shape provides that a pair of eyeglasses can be contained within. One embodiment of the purse is generally rectangular in shape with dimensions of about 10 centimeters by about 18 centimeters. This is generally a sufficient size to allow storage of typical eyeglasses. However, it should be clear that the purse described herein may have alternative embodiments that are oval, circular, or other geometric shape. It should be further understood that the dimensions are typical and the purse 10 may be larger or smaller, provided that eyeglasses can fit within.

Claims

1. A purse comprising:

a front side;

a back side;

an interior compartment defined by the space between the front side and the back side which has a top opening at the unjoined top edges of the front side and the back side;

at least two interior pockets accessible through a side opening defined by unjoined side edges of the front side and back side, wherein said opening has a closure; and

a strap.

2. The purse of claim 1 further comprising a closure for said top opening.

3. The purse of claim 2 wherein said closure is a hook-and-loop fastener.

4. The purse of claim 2 wherein said closure is a magnetic snap.

5. The purse of claim 2 wherein said closure is a mechanical snap.

6. The purse of claim 1 further comprising a central compartment having fabric dividers, located within the interior compartment.

7. The purse of claim 1 further comprising a vertical closure wherein said vertical closure closes said side opening providing access to said interior pockets.

8. The purse of claim 7 wherein said closure is a zipper.

9. The purse of claim 1 further comprising a movable cord lock located on the strap to allow adjustment of the strap length.

10. The purse of claim 9 further comprising a strap retaining loop located within said interior compartment.

11. A method of storing eyeglasses comprising the steps of:

opening the purse of claim 1;

placing eyeglasses within a central compartment; and

closing the purse.

12. The method of storing eyeglasses of claim 11 further comprising the step of fastening a closure on said purse.