Multipurpose clip

Abstract

Disclosed is a multifunction clip which may be utilized as a clip for supporting a pair of glasses, a vertical card on a surface or for hanging an object from an article of clothing. The clip comprises a front portion and a back portion each having proximate and distal ends. The front and back portions are connected at their proximate ends wherein the distal ends of the front and back portions are opposably biased towards each other. The front portion includes a bottom portion proximate to the distal end wherein the bottom portion is angled away from the back portion and includes an aperture therethrough adapted to receive an arm of a pair of glasses or split ring. The front and back portion also have continuous side edges adapted to support the clip in an upright position on a surface so as to support a card in a substantially vertical orientation thereon.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/819,641 filed Jul. 11, 2006 entitled Eyeclip.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a clip that enables the user to safely store their glasses on their clothing, or at known locations such as a purse or golfbag, such that the glasses are accessible and relatively protected from dirt, damage, and loss. The clip of the present invention may also be utilized as a card placement holder as well as a wearable clip for securing name tags and the like thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that eyeglasses are often worn for specific tasks or activities and are thereafter removed when the task or activity is complete. Often such tasks or activities may be repeated one or more times in the course of a day. An example of this wearing and removal cycle includes but is not limited to the use of sunglasses, where the wearer is moving from brightly lit surroundings typically out of doors where the sunglasses are worn, to more darkly lit surroundings such as indoors where the sunglasses are removed, and back again. Another example of cyclical wearing and removal of eyeglasses is in the use of reading glasses to read and or write documentation or notes followed by another activity such as interaction with other people such as in a medical professional setting where patients are interacted with, their charts are read and notes are written. Another example is safety glasses in a worksite wherein the wearer or worker wears glasses for a specified task and removes glasses when task is finished. Safety glasses are prone to scratching, loss and misplacement, and it is therefore desirable to have an apparatus for storing such glasses which will reduce scratching, loss and misplacement. In the context of safety glasses, this will also reducing potential for injury by permitting the wearer to maintain their safety glasses in good condition and not misplaced.

Temporarily storing eyeglasses in a clothing pocket often results in the glasses becoming smudged with fingerprints, lint, dust and other soiling agents that negatively affect the optical clarity of the glasses. The glasses may also become scratched by other objects in the pocket, or broken by falling out of the pocket. Additionally, if the user puts their glasses down, then the chances of loosing the glasses rises considerably depending on the environment in which they are placed, and how well the user remembers such details.

A number of solutions to this problem of temporary eyeglass removal and storage such that they remain accessible to the wearer have been developed. For example clips for hanging eyeglasses from a part of the wearer's clothing, belt, sun visor, or some other thin object have been developed such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,533,414, 5,842,613 and 5,533,656. However each of these devices requires an additional loop to be applied to the clip to receive the glasses. This loop adds cost and complexity and the additional pieces make it easier for the glasses to swing about. The additional loop also makes it more difficult for a user to secure their glasses therewith due to the need to align the arm of the glasses with the loop which may be swinging or moving at the time.

Applicant is also aware of an eyeglass retainer disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,887. However this device includes a loop orthogonally protruding therefrom to support the eyeglass frame. The complexity of the orthogonally protruding loop of this prior art would add additional cost. In addition U.S. Design Pat. No. 328,085 discloses an eyeglass hanger however it is not taught by U.S. Design 328,085 how to apply and utilize the disclosed design.

What is desired is an eyeglass holder that may be efficiently constructed for securely holding the eyeglasses of a user to an article of clothing, book edge or the like where the user may quickly and easily secure the eyeglasses thereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present when worn properly, allows the user to keep their glasses handy and better protected than would be the case if they were placed in a pocket, on top of a head, on a front collar, or set down somewhere only to be forgotten and lost. The clip is easy to use, making it more likely to be used than might be the case for the more complex designs taught in the prior art. The one-piece simple design of the clip of the present invention means it can also be produced more cost effectively than those of the prior art, and the eyeglasses are less prone to swing around and are therefore safer.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed, a multi function clip, for example, an apparatus for supporting a pair of glasses. The apparatus comprises a front portion and a back portion each having proximate and distal ends. The front and back portions are connected at their proximate ends wherein the distal ends of the front and back portions are resiliently biased towards each other so as to form a resilient clip. The front portion includes an upper portion proximate to its proximate end and a bottom portion proximate to its distal end wherein the bottom portion is angled or inclined away from the back portion and includes an aperture therethrough adapted for example sized to receive an arm of a pair of glasses journalled through the aperture.

The bottom portion and the upper portion may form an angle therebetween of between 170 and 90 degrees. For example, the bottom portion and the front portion may form an angle therebetween of 135 degrees or 150 degrees. The front and back portions may be formed of a continuous sheet of material folded over on itself about the proximate end so as to form the front and back portions of the clip.

The front portion may include laterally outwardly diverging angled sides such that the distal end is laterally wider than the proximate end. Conversely the back portion may include profiled sides such that the distal end has a flared shape that is wider than the proximate end. The aperture may be circular. The distal end of the front portion may include a rounded profile having a radius about a center of the aperture, for example so as to be concentric therewith.

The front and back portions may be formed from plastic. The plastic may be selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and acrylic.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a clip according to a first embodiment of the present invention supporting a pair of eyeglasses, and attached to a breast pocket of a shirt of a user.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the clip of FIG. 1 supporting a pair of eyeglasses at the hinge point of the eyeglass frame.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the clip of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the clip of FIG. 2 secured to a belt of a user.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the clip of FIG. 2 being forced open by a user's thumb and index finger by the thumb being pushed vertically upwards into the fold of the clip in preparation for mounting of the clip onto a shirt pocket, belt or the like.

FIG. 6 is, in front perspective view, the clip of FIG. 5 being applied to a shirt pocket by a user forcing the two inside surfaces of the clip apart using thumb and index finger and sliding the clip over the shirt pocket.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a pair of eyeglasses positioned so as to insert one arm of the eyeglasses into the aperture in the clip of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a cut sheet utilized to form the clip of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a clip having a large aperture according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the clip of FIG. 2 having a optional split ring.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the clip of FIG. 2 being standing on a side edge thereof on a horizontal surface and supporting a substantially vertical card.

FIG. 12a through 12f show top and bottom plan views, proximate and distal end views and right and left side views of the clip of FIG. 2.

FIG. 13a through 13f show top and bottom plan views, right and left end views and front and back side views of the clip of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a clip 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown applied to a shirt pocket 6 of a user 4. As illustrated in FIG. 1, one arm 8 of frame 12 of the eyeglass 10 is supported suspended from the clip as further described below.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the clip 20 is shown. The clip 20 comprises a front portion 21 and a back portion 24. The front portion 21 comprises an elongate member having proximate and distal ends 26 and 28 with a top or upper portion 22 proximate to the proximate end, respectively. The back portion 24 comprises an elongate member having proximate and distal ends 30 and 32, respectively wherein the proximate end 32 of the back portion and the proximate end 26 of the front portion are continuously connected to each other at an end fold 40. The front portion 21 is resiliently biased against the back portion 24 such that a contact point or line 37 of the front portion is resiliently abutted against an inside surface 39 of the back portion. As illustrated in FIG. 3, where the proximate ends 26 and 30 of the front and back portions 21 and 24 respectively are spaced apart at the end fold 40 the front portion 24 is angularly oriented so as to converge towards the back portion by an angle indicated generally at 41. The front and back portions 21 and 24 of the clip 20 have side edges 72 and 74 which are substantially parallel to each other in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.

The front portion 21 also includes a bottom portion 34 angularly oriented relative to the top portion 22 about a second fold line 36. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom portion 34 may be continuously formed with the top portion 22 and angled thereto along a second fold line 36. The bottom portion 34 also includes an aperture 38 adapted to receive the arm of a pair of glasses. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the angle formed between the bottom portion 34 and the top portion 22 is indicated generally at 45. The angle 45 is selected such that the bottom portion 34 is oriented relative to the top portion at an angle whereby a pair of glasses supported by the clip 20 are maintained in close proximity to the body of the wearer while permitting the glasses to be quickly and easily secured thereto. It has been found that angle 45 may be selected from between 90 and 170 degrees is sufficient with an angle of between 150 and 135 degrees being particularly useful. The bottom portion 34 is also angularly oriented relative to the back portion 24 as illustrated in FIG. 3 at a gap angle generally indicated at 60 when the clip 20 is in a resting ie. non-deformed position.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the front and back portions may be continuously formed of a single sheet of material wherein the material is folded over on itself along end fold 40 so as to form the front and back portions 21 and 24 respectively on either side of the end fold 40. It will also be appreciated however that the front and back portion 21 and 24 may be formed as separate sheets of material and joined together at their respective proximate ends 26 and 30 respectively. These two pieces may be joined together by means of gluing, welding or other fastening methods as are known in the art. The end fold 40 may be formed such that the sheet of material has an inside radius such that the proximate ends of the front and back sheets 21 and 24 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to accept an edge of an article of clothing, a belt or other object such as a book binding or the like.

Referring to FIG. 8, an outline of material 70 that may be utilized for forming the clip is illustrated. The outline 70 extends along the side edges 72 and 74 between the distal end 32 of the back portion 24 and the distal end 28 of the front portion 21 and contains therein the back portion 24, the top portion 22 and the bottom portion 34 as well as the aperture 38 located in the bottom portion 34. After being cut to the appropriate outline shape, the outline 70 may be folded about end fold 40 and second fold line 36 so as to form the eye glass clip illustrated.

Returning now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the clip 20 has an overall length from the end fold 40 to the distal end 28 of the front portion 21 generally indicated at 42. The back portion 24 has a length generally indicated at 44 when the length 44 of the back portion is less than the length 42 of the front portion 21. For example, it has been found that an overall length 42 of between 1½ and 2½ inches and a back portion length 44 of between 1½ and 2 inches has been suitable. The second fold line 36 is located at a distance indicated generally at 46 from the end fold 40. It has been found that locating the second fold line 36 at a distance of between 1 and 1½ inches from the end fold 40 have been particularly useful.

The aperture 38 for receiving the eyeglass frame is positioned such that it includes a proximate edge 50 located at a distance 48 from the end fold 40 which is selected to be less than the length 46 of the back portion 24. The aperture 38 also includes a distal edge 52 located at a distance 54 from the end fold 40 that is longer than the length 44 of the back portion.

The aperture 38 of the clip is sized to receive the arm of a pair of glasses. It had been found that a size of between ⅜ and 1½ inch has been particularly useful. It will be appreciated however by those with skill in the art that different diameters of the aperture may be better suited for use with different styles of glasses. For example a larger or elliptical hole may be better suited for wide framed eyeglasses or sunglasses. Conversely a smaller aperture 38 would be better suited to accept glasses with thin frames. The circular shape of the aperture enables the eyeglasses to move into a vertical orientation due to gravity acting on the eyeglasses.

The angle 60 formed by the back portion 24 and the bottom portion 34 will space the aperture 38 away from the material that the clip is being attached to sufficiently to permit insertion and removal of the glass arm 8. If the distal end 28 of the front portion 21 of the clip 20 is too close to the supporting material there will be insufficient clearance between the clip 20 and the wearer's clothing and body or the like for the arm 8 of the eye glasses 10 to be easily inserted. Conversely if the angle 60 is to large, then distal end 28 of the front portion 21 of the clip 20 will stand off from the supporting material a greater distance, resulting in the clip 20 potentially snagging objects without the wearer intending it to do so. Also in this case the glasses 10 will stand off further from the supporting body and tend to swing about more than if they were resting slightly against the supporting body. It has been found that an angle 60 of between 10 and 60 degrees will be adequate with angels of 30 and 45 degrees being particularly useful.

The bottom portion 34 and back portion 24 form a gap generally indicated at 62 about gap angle 60. The gap 62 may be utilized as a pry zone that allows the user to force bottom and back portions 34 and 24 apart to aid in applying the clip to a supporting object such as a shirt pocket, belt, sun-visor or other. Advantageously the distal end 32 of the back portion 24 is located somewhere within the aperture 38 between 48 and 54 for best leveraging with a finger or thumb displacing the bottom and back portions 34 and 24 apart during application of the clip 20. The described prying action is illustrated in FIG. 5, in which the thumb 7 of a user is placed into gap 62, and driven in direction A between the bottom and back portions 34 and 24 by application of a force towards the thumb 7 by the index finger 9 of a user. It will be appreciated that the clip 20 may also be pulled onto an edge of an article of clothing by placing the edge of the shirt pocket 6, for example, within the gap 62 and pulling the clip 20 down over the edge such that the edge of the shirt pocket 6 is forced between the front and back portions 21 and 24 of the clip.

The clip 20 is installed by prying same apart and sliding the clip longitudinally over the supporting material such as a shirt pocket as illustrated in FIG. 6. The clip may also be located on a belt 16 or other surface as will be appreciated with the bottom portion 34 projecting away from the supporting body 3 or 4 illustrated in FIG. 4.

Once the clip 20 is installed the glasses are positioned as shown in FIG. 7, with one arm closed against the frame of the eyeglasses, and the second arm 8 slightly open. The arm 8 may then be passed through the aperture 38 in the clip 20, until the eyeglasses 10 come to a rest at the temple hinge 5 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, thereby supporting the glasses 10 on the clip 20.

The clip can be manufactured from a variety of formable materials including metals and plastics. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 the clip 20 is for example made of clear polycarbonate. The sheet may formed into an outline 70 illustrated in FIG. 10. The clip 20 may be formed in a like manner from other types of plastics as well such as, by way of non-limiting example, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and acrylic. It will be apprecited that other materials may also be used which permit the front portion 21 to be biased into contact with the back portion 24 such as such as for example aluminum, steel, stainless steel as well as other materials as will be apparent to those of skill in the art. It will also be apparent that the clip 20 may be manufactured by other processes, such as, for example injection molding, utilizing resins, or by using more exotic processes such as laser sintering, or by forming precious or conventional sheet metal.

Turning now to FIG. 9, a clip 80 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The clip 80 is formed in a similar manner to the clip 20 described above and includes a front portion 81 having a top or upper portion 82, a back portion 84 and a bottom portion 86. The bottom portion 86 includes an aperture 92 and a rounded bottom end 88 while the back portion includes a distal end 90. The front portion 82 of the clip 80 also includes side edges 94 which are angled relative to each other such that their distal ends 94a are further apart than their proximate ends 94b. The back portion 84 similarly includes side edges 96 wherein the side edges may be parallel to each other or angled in a similar manner to the side edges 94 of the front portion 82 such that the distal end 90 of the back portion 84 is narrower than the end adjoining the proximate ends 94b of the front portion 82. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the clip 80 may include a back portion 84 having profiled sides such that the distal end 90 is wider than the end adjoining the proximate ends 94b of the front portion. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 13b the side edges 96 of the back portion may have convex, flared or mushroom shaped profiles. A clip as illustrated in FIG. 9 will facilitate the use of a larger aperture 92 without significantly increasing the size of the remainder of the clip and will therefore require less material.

A clip according to the present invention may have additional uses. As illustrated in FIG. 10, a split ring 100 may be passed through the aperture 38 so as to secure a vinyl name tag pocket 104 or the like thereto. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the clip may be located with one of the side edges 72 or 74 on a horizontal surface 110. Thereafter, a place card 112 or the like may be secured between the front and back portions 21 and 24 so as to display any material on the card 112. In such a use, it will be appreciated that a clip 20 constructed of a transparent material will be particularly useful.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a pair of glasses, the apparatus comprising a front portion and a back portion each having proximate and distal ends, said front and back portions being connected at their proximate ends and wherein said distal ends of said front and back portions are resiliently biased towards each other, said front portion having an upper portion proximate said proximate end and a planar bottom portion proximate to said distal end wherein said bottom portion is angled away from said back portion and includes an aperture therethrough adapted to receive an arm of a pair of glasses, said bottom portion adapted to maintain the pair of glasses supported there in close proximity to the body of a wearer when said apparatus is supported on an edge of an article of clothing of the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom portion and said upper portion form an angle therebetween of between 170 and 90 degrees.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom portion and said upper portion form an angle therebetween of 135 degrees.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom portion and said upper portion form an angle therebetween of 150 degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front and back portions are formed of a continuous sheet of material folded over on itself so as to form said front and back portions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front portion includes angled sides such that said distal end is wider than said proximate end.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said back portion includes profiled sides such that said distal end has a flared shape that is wider than said proximate end

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said aperture is circular.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said distal end of said front portion includes a rounded profile having a radius about a center of said aperture.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said front and back portions are formed from plastic.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and acrylic.

12. A multifunction clip comprising a front portion and a back portion each having proximate and distal ends, said front and back portions being connected at their proximate ends and wherein said distal ends of said front and back portions are resiliently biased towards each other, said front portion having a bottom portion proximate to said distal end wherein said bottom portion is angled away from said back portion and includes an aperture therethrough adapted to receive an arm of a pair of glasses, said front and back portion having continuous side edges adapted to support said clip in an upright position horizontal when laid on it's side on a surface so as to support a card-shaped member in a substantially vertical orientation in said clip.