Eyewear retention device
An adjustable eyewear retention device having two comprising a resilient elongate member adjustable in length, such as a pair of cables, two and a pair of temple retainers connected to one another by the elongate member, guiding means and grasping means which allow adjustment of the device to the dimensions of a user's head. In another embodiment, the guiding means is eliminated and the cables are connected by means of the grasping means such that when the temple retainers are attached to the temples of a pair of eyeglasses and the eyeglasses are worn by a wearer, the resilient member forms an arc suspended off the wearer's neck.
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This is a utility continuation of design patent application 29/336,725 entitled “Adjustable Eyewear Retention Device.” This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT Application No. PCT/US09/43156 filed May 7, 2009 (now expired), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/051,539, filed May 8, 2008 (now expired). This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/336,725 filed May 7, 2009, now U.S. Pat. D607,919.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to devices that retain eyewear on a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONU.S. Pat. No. 7,467,867 issued to Williams discloses an eyewear retention device having two temple retainers connected by a cable which, when attached to eyeglasses and worn over the ears by a user, maintains a suspended arc over the wearer's neck, shoulders or garments. Williams' design, however, does not specifically address the need for holding the eyewear securely against a user's face during rigorous activity.
What is needed is a superior eyewear retainer design that incorporates adjustability in its structure so that a wearer may easily disengage the retention device in an adjustable fashion and maintain the advantages of the suspended arc in Williams.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAn adjustable eyewear retention device is disclosed that includes two cables, two temple retainers (one at each end of the cable), and means for adjusting the cables at the back of a user's head. The two cables are the same length, partially overlap one another, and create an arc when the invention device is attached to eyeglasses. In one embodiment at least one guide for the two cables is provided. The guide contains at least one tunnel or hole which keeps the two cables in close proximity and also allows at least one of the two cables to pass through slideably. In one embodiment the guide has a tunnel for each of the two cables and, in another embodiment, the two cables pass through the same tunnel or hole in the guide. A tab for adjustment is secured to the end of each cable opposite the temple retainer. In one embodiment the tab also contains a tunnel or hole for allowing the other cable to pass through slideably, thus acting as a guide and keeping the other cable in a defined path in the arc. In another embodiment, the tab is secured only to the end of one cable and the other cable does not pass through the tab, so the cable with the tab in this embodiment is not in the defined path of the arc. In all embodiments of the invention the tabs allow adjustment by increasing or decreasing the length of the arc.
An adjustable eyewear retention device incorporating the features of the invention is depicted in the attached figures:
Referring to the figures for a better understanding of the function and structure of the various embodiments of the invention,
Referring now to
As shown, each cable 12 extends in an arc 23 around an overlapping portion of the other cable with one end of each cable secured to a tab 14a,b. Preferably, cable 12 is composed of a resilient material, such as a plastic coated twisted metal cable, plastic monofilament line, or semi-solid plastic tubing. While the preferred embodiment utilizes plastic coated twisted metal cable, any of the other aforementioned resilient cables can be utilized with satisfactory results. Guides 13a,b work cooperatively to hold cables 12a,b together in close proximity to one another and, in one embodiment, are comprised of a hollow, relatively thick walled plastic material through which cables 12a,b may pass simultaneously in parallel fashion. The guides may be constructed of any materials of sufficient strength. The guides 13a,b each have a length sufficient to promote parallel positioning of cables 12a,b such that each cable tracks the other around the arc 23. Guides 13 may have a linear shape or may also, preferably, have a slightly arcuate shape to further promote arc 23. Guides 13a,b each may have a single tunnel providing sufficient space to allow the cables 12a,b to pass through simultaneously, against one another, and in a parallel traversing configuration. However, in the preferred embodiment, the passage of cables 12 through guide 13 fit snugly within guide 13 in twin hollow longitudinal tunnels in the guide 13, each tunnel in close proximity to the other, but separate. Each tunnel is sized such that the tunnel walls exert frictional forces on cables 12a and 12b to prevent spontaneous movement of each cable within the guide during strenuous physical activity or in response to relatively strong gravitational forces upon the invention's apparatus's 10 orientation.
As those skilled in art will recognize, guides 13a,b must allow for the free passage of cables 12, although under a frictional loading, so that tabs 14a and 14b may be grasped, pulled, and the cables moved to allow for closure of cables 12a,b through the progressive overlapping of each cable, thereby cinching the apparatus upon the rear portion of the user's head. As will also be noted, there are areas of overlap, namely 17 and 18a,b, that will vary in dimensional length depending upon the position of tabs 14. As tabs 14a and 14b are pulled apart from one another, guides 13a and 13b will move toward one other and toward a virtual center point of arc 23, thereby decreasing the dimension space 17.
Referring to
While the guides 13 and the tabs 14 have been shown in generic geometries, the inventor envisions variations of ornamental geometries and/or designs to be integrated with these structures in order to enhance the attractiveness to consumers and increase sales of apparatus 10.
Referring to
As more easily seen in
Referring now to
In order for a wearer to reverse the maximum closed position, one would simply need to grasp guides 13a and 13b and separate them by pulling outward and around the back of the head, toward the front of the head until contacting tabs 14. Upon contact with tabs 14 with guides 13, the maximum expansion of apparatus 10 can be reached by continuing pressure on tabs 14, thereby expanding dimension 17 (see
In the final three FIGS. the tightened and loosened positions of the three embodiments of invention with the suspended arc above the wearer's neck, shoulders and garments are shown in three embodiments: with two guides and tabs which do not contain a tunnel for one of the cables—12A,B; with one guide and tabs with a tunnel for one of the cables—13A,B; and without a separate guide member but with each tab containing a tunnel for one of the cables and acting as a guide—14A,B. The number of guides can be selected independently of whether one of the cables passes through a tunnel in the tab. However, if there is not at least one separate guide then each tab must have a tunnel through which one of the cables passes through slideably to serve as a guiding means, in order to keep the device together.
While the invention is shown in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
Claims
1. An adjustable eyewear retention device, comprising:
- a. two cables,
- b. two temple retainers, each having an opening for receiving the end of an eyeglass temple and each secured to a first end of one of the two cables,
- c. two tabs, each of which is secured to a second end of one of the two cables, and
- d. at least one guide through which the two cables pass slideably;
- e. such that when each said opening is attached to the end of an eyeglass temple and the eyeglasses are worn over the ears of a wearer, the two cables partially overlap and form an arc suspended above the wearer's neck, shoulders or garments, and such that moving the tabs adjusts the length of the arc.
2. The invention as in claim 1, further comprising a tunnel in each of the two tabs which allows one of the cables to pass through slideably.
3. The invention as in claim 2, further comprising deleting the at least one guide through which the two cables pass slideably.
4. The invention as in claim 1, in which the at least one guide allows the two cables to move by frictional loading.
5. The invention as in claim 1, further comprising wherein pulling the tabs away from the at least one guide decreases the length of the arc, and pushing the tabs toward the at least one guide increases the length of the arc.
6. The invention in claim 1, further comprising at least two guides a second guide through which the two cables pass slideably, there being a dimension between the at least two guides along the cables and a dimension between each said guide and one of the tabs along one of the cables, and wherein pulling either of the two tabs towards the ears causes the dimension between the at least two guides to decrease and pushing either of the two tabs away from the ears causes the dimension between the at least two guides to increase.
7. The invention in claim 1, further comprising wherein the at least one guide being is positioned such that the two cables are in close proximity to one another and partially overlap one another, and each said tab extends outward away from the at least one guide.
8. The invention in claim 1, further comprising wherein the at least one guide being is arcuate in shape.
9. The invention in claim 1, further comprising wherein the two cables being composed of comprise a material selected from the group of monofilament fishing line, twisted metal cable, and plastic tubing.
10. The invention as recited in claim 1, further comprising wherein one of the two cables being is fixed inside each said the at least one guide.
11. An adjustable eyewear retention device, comprising:
- a. two cables,
- b. means for retaining the temples of a pair of eyeglasses to the ends of said cables,
- c. means for grasping the terminus of each said cable at an end distal from said retention means,
- d. means for guiding said two cables such that each cable is positioned close to one another, and
- e. wherein the two cables form an arc suspended above the wearer's neck, shoulders or garments, and wherein the two cables are movable through said guiding means responsive to moving each grasping means to allow adjustment of the arc to or from the head of a user.
12. The invention as in claim 11, in which the guiding means allow the two cables to move by frictional loading.
13. The invention in claim 11, further comprising wherein the two cables being composed of comprise material selected from the group of monofilament fishing line, twisted metal cable, and plastic tubing.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 25, 2012
Date of Patent: Nov 12, 2019
Assignee: CABLZ, INC. (Birmingham, AL)
Inventor: Ronald Wade Williams (Birmingham, AL)
Primary Examiner: Sara S Clarke
Application Number: 13/660,706
International Classification: G02C 3/00 (20060101);