CA2009254A1 - Spectacle case - Google Patents

Abstract

SPECTACLE CASE The spectacle case (20) is of the open-mouth type. The case includes an inner lining (25) of thin cotton, which is stitched top (30) and bottom (36) into a stiff outer cover (23). The stitching is so arranged as to leave the central portion of the lining loose and able to expand and move laterally, within the outer cover. An encircling elastic band (27) creates a pinched waist (40) in the lining. The elastic band tightens the lining around the nose cut-out (43) of spectacles (40) inserted into the case, thereby retaining the spectacles securely. (Fig 1)

Description

TITLE: SPECTACLE CASE

This invention relates to spectacle cases of the kind that are placed in, or clipped to, a shirt pocke~, or the like.
Such spectacle cases are used for containing eg reading glasses; and one aspect of the design and operation of the spectacle case is that a person should find no difficulty in quickly extracting the specta~les from, and rep~acing them in, the case.

; BACKGROUND TO T~E INVENTION

The invention is concerned with the type o~ spectacle case which is basically tubular in form, being closed at the bottom end, and having an open mouth at the top end. This type of open-mouth case may be contrasted with the type which comprises a box with a hinged lid.

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In the type o~ spectacle case which comprises a box with a hinged lid, the case can be quite hard and rigid, and such a case o~fer~ excelle~t protectlon agalnst the spectacles becoming scratched or otherwise damaged because~ in this ~ n, th~-3 ~ t~ t-3~ Rre not gripped by the ca~e in any way. On thq other han~, when the ~ase ~om~lses ~ box wlth a hlnged lld, lt ls not practically possible or a person to take the ~pectacle~ out o the Ca~e unles~ ~he person uses both hand~.

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The type of spectacle case with which the invention is concerned is the kind where the case has an open mouth at the top end, wherein it is possible ~or a person to insert and extract the spectacles with one hand.

In the conventional open-mouth design, the spectacles remain in the case primarily by the action of gravity. Thus, if the person leans forward, or lndulges in vigorous movements, there is a danger that the spectacles might fall out of the case.

The conventional design of open-mouth case is such that whatever grip the case exerts on the spectacles is exerted by way of direct contact between the inside of the case and the glass of the spectacle lens. Because of this, if the contact is at all forceful, the lenses can, with use, and with repeated insertions and extractions of the spectacles, gradually become dulled or scratched.

With the conventlonal deslgn of open-mouth case, experlence has shown that i~ the case is tight enough upon the spectacles to provide a reasonably secure grip, then the -ca~e has to s~ueeze the spectacles so tightly to achieve the re~uir~d grlp tha~ there i~ ~oo high a chance that the s~eGkacle~ may becom~ damaged ov~r time. ~n assoclated prohlem ls that o~ cour~e not all spec~acles have the samq dlmens~on~, yet inevitably the stxength o~E the case's grip depend~ on th~ dimenslon~ o the ~p~ct~cle~

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The problem therefore may be summed up in that it has not proved possible, with the conventional design of open-mouth spectacle case, to provide sufficient grip to hold the spectacles in securely, and yet at the same time to permit the spectacles to be easily inserted into and removed from the case~ with one hand, and without damaging the spectacles, over a use~ul range of sizes of spectacles.

DESCRIPTION OF MAIN FEATURES OF THE INVENTIVN

In the lnvention~ the spectacle case comprises an outer cover and an inner lining. The outer cover is of tubular form, open at it~ top end~ and closed at its bottom end; the inner lining al50 i~ o~ similar tubular form, open at the top end and closed at the bottom end. The open top end o the inner lining is secured, ~or example by stitching, to the open top end o~ the outer cover, and the closed bottom end o~ the inner lining is secured to the closed bottom end o~ the outer cover.

The outer cover is of such materlal and dimensions as to be ~ti~, ~o as to providQ ~ood phy~1cal protection o~ ~hq ~pectacle~ The inn~r lining ls o~ ~uch mat~rlal and dimen~lon~ a~ ~o have sub~tantially no ~tl~ness.

A c~ntral portion o~ the inner lining i~ no-t se~ured to the outer cover~ but rather the central portion is loo~e and free to float laterally within the outer cover. It is arranged, in the invention, that it is thi~ loose central portion which acts to grip the spectacles, and thus to retain the spectacles within the case.

In the invention, the inner lining is itself well secured, top and bottom, to the outer cover. Since the spectacles are securely gripped within the inner lining, therefore the spectacles are well secured with respect to the case.

The inner lining preferably is arranged with a pinched waist. To achieve this, an elastic band may be stitched around the loose central portion of the lining, or the material of the inner lining may be inherently elastic in itsel~, in order to achieve the pinched waist effect.

Every pair of ~pectacles has a large reces~ed zone, being the zone which comprises the nose cut-out of the spectacles.
When the inner lining has a pinched waist, the pinched waist is so arranged as to squeeze and grip the spectacles in the region o~ the nose cut-out. Thus, the grip can be tight and strong enough to grip the speckacles securely, and yet there is no force~ul contact between the case and the vulne~able l~n~ o~' th~ ~pectacle~. To be ~ure~ the waist mu~t be ~tretched ove~ ~ne o~ the len~es a~ the ~ectacl~s ar~
in~erted ~ully lnto ~he ca~e/ bUt ~o long a~ th~ m~terial o the inner lining i~ so.~t and flexlble, experience ~hows that ~cxatchlng and other ~adual ~amage to the len~es can be .
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substantially eliminated.

Also, in the invention, the outer cover o~ the case is not required to be stretchy or pliable to anything like the exten~ that was required in a conventional spectacle case, where the cover was responsible for such gripping action as was provided by the case. Thus, in the invention, the outer cover can be designed and specified solely according to its primary function, which is to provide good physical protectlon for the spectacles.

E~ually, the inner lining also may be designed and specified solely according to its primary function, which is to provide the correct grip on the spectacles; tight enough to prevent the spectacles ~rom falling out of the case, yet not so tight that a person would have difficulty inserting or extracting the spectacles. In the invention, the performance of the spectacle case may be perfectly adequate, even thouqh the outer cover may be completely clear 4f the ~pectacles, and even though the physlcal protection of~ered by the inner lin3.ng is zero.

The lnventlon permlt~ the right balance to be achieved b~twa~n qa~e o~ in~rtion/rQmoval and ~tr~n~th o ret~ntion grl~, ~v~r a wid~ range o~ ~pec~acle ~ize~.

THE PRIOR AR~

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Patent publications US 2650700 (WOI.F, 9J1953) and US 2866539 (McCULLOCH, 12/1958) show spectacle cases which incorporate an inner lining. US 2455079 (MERCER, 11/19~8) shows a rigid outer cover, with a clip for gripping the spectacles at the nose cut-out zone. Other references of interest include: US
1158170 (BRADLEY, 1915); US 2739698 (BARATELLI, 3/1956); US
2762~99 (STEGEMAN, 9/1956); and US 3~19033 (HUEBER, ~/1974).

The essential feature of the invention is that the inner lining must be soft and flexible; that the lining must be secured to the cover top and bottom, and that the unsecured central portion of the lining must be free to floa-t laterally. This feature is not shown in the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

By way of ~urther explanation o~ the invention, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be ~escribe~ wlth re~erence to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig 1 i~ a vlew o~ a spectacle ca~e, containing a pair of ~p~ctacl~ which embodies ~he inven~ion;

Fi~ a v1~w o ~ome o~ khe comporlen~ oE -khe ~pec:tclcle ~a~e o~ Fl~ hown clurlllg a sta~e in th~ manu~acture oE
khe c~e;

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. -Fiq 3 is a view of the components shown in ~ig 2, shown a~ a later stage of manufacture.

The spectacle case shown in the accompanying drawings and described below is an example which ernbodies the invention.
It should be noted that the ~cope of th~ invention is defined by the accompanying claim~, and not n~cess~rily by speciflc features of exemplary embodiments.

The spectacle case 20 includes an outer cover ~3, which is made from leatherette or the like, and has a thickness of about 1 mm. As such~ the material of the cover 23 is of an inherently stif~ character, although the material is c~pable of being bent, folded, stitched, etc.

The spectacle case 20 also includes an inner lining 25. The lining 25 is made ~rom a soft fabric~ such as thin cotton.
The material of the inner linlng 25 is characteri~ed as having substantially no stlffness.

The inner lining 25 i~ provided with an elastic band 27.

The hand 27 ls form~d a~ a lellgth of rubber, i~ the band 1~
n~ a ~onkinu~u~ cir~lQ~ Th~ band 27 oE ~ubh~r ls ~titch~d ~o the lnn~ linln~ ~5, a~ shown at: 29. ~rhe lcngtll o~ th~

band 27 1~ th~n ~h~ Wldth of thc inn~r 11ning 25, and the ru~b~ i5 ~trek~h~-3 a~ros~ th~ ~ull wl~th oE khe lini 25 b~for~ b~lng ~tlkch~d ln place. When khe st~etch of khe , ;~3f~

band 27 is relaxed, the inner lining becomes pinched, as shown.

Fig 2 shows an initial stage of manufacture. The inner lining 25, with rubber band 27 attached, is stitched ~as shown at 30~ along its top edge to the top edge of the outer cover 23.

As shown in Fig 3, the le~t and right side edges oE the inner lining 25 are brought together, and stitched together as shown at 32. The line of stitching 32 is arranged ~o as also to fasten together the ends of the elastic b~nd 27.
The line of stitching 32 may stop somewhat shor-t of the line of stitching 30, as may be seen in Fig 3, for ease of sewing.

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The le~t and right side edges o~ the outer cover 23 are now brought together, and stitched together as shown a~ 34. The outer cover is also stitched across the hottoul, ac shown at 36, in order to close off the bottom of the cover. During the operation of inserting the lines oE stitches 34 and 36, the inner llning 25 i5 arranged so that the bottom margin of ~he linlny ls cau~h~ by th~ line o~ stitclhin~ 36, but care is tak~n to en~uxe that the side edy~ o~ the lininy, and th~ lln~ o:~ ~stl~o~hln~ ~2, ~r~ not caucJht hy t:h~ lln~ o~
~tl~ching 3~. ~h~ ~m~ll un~titched ~ortloll at ~he to~ o th~ ~ide ~dge~ o~ the llning ~5, how~ver, i~ cau~h~ b~ ~h~
llne of stitching 34.

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The thin cotton inner lining 25 thus is stitched at top and bottom to the outer cover 23, buk the inner lining 25 is loose, ie is not stitched to the outer cover, over the major central portion of t}-le length of the cover. The elastic band 27 acts to create a pinched waist 40 in this loose central portion of the lining It will be noted that the loose central E~ortio1l of the lining 25 is not secured laterally within the cover 23, and thus the plnched waist 40 ls free to he 3isplacred laterally with respect to the cover. The lining itself is, on the other hand, securely fixed top and bottom to the cover, with the result that the pinched waist 40 is constrained against movement in directions other than laterally.

The top edges of the outer cover 23 and the inner lining 25 form an open mouth of the spectacle case 20, into which a pair of spectacles 42 may be inserted. As the spectacles are being lnserted, the pinched waist 40 of the lining 25 stretclles over the entering spectacle lens; when the spectacles are fully inserted, the pinched waist ~0 of the lining lies in the nose cut-out æone 43 of the spectacles.

As ment lonecl previ~usly, ik has been ~OUII~ that khc strengt:h o~ pin~hlng that ~rl~ from th~ u~ture a~ c~ d 1 ~uc~h thal~ the sp~ck~ ax~ hel~ ~irrr~ ncl ~ecur~1~; a per~on ~nay lean Forward~, and engage in quite vlgorou~

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activity, confident in the knowledge that the spectacles will not fall out of the case.

Even though the spectaces are held in place securely and firmly, there is little forceful contact being made upon the actual lenses of the spectacles. Thus/ it can be expected that the storage of the spectacles within tlle case as described will lead to a substantial reduction in the amount of gradual scratching and dulling of the lenses that was sometimes as~ociated with the corlventional cases. In the invention, the spectacles are gripped over the nose cut-out ~one 43, not over the lenses.

The material of the inner lining 25 sholJld be snag-resistant because spectacles often include screws and other small protruberances. The material therefore should be of a smooth, close woven or knitted nature.
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The materi~l o~ the inner lining 25 tna~ itsel~ be elastic.
If so, the inner lining may be so stitched in place as to form a waicst naturally, and therefore the provision of the elastic ~and 26, so as to form the pinched waist, ics not es~entldl to the ll~v~ tion. What ic3 ~ssentlal, ln ~l~e inven~lon, i~3 ~hat the cent~al portlon oE the inner llniny b~ ~qely ~xpalldable la~ lly, and preferably -that ~h&
c~ntral p~ti~n be so a~ang~d as ~o apply ~ plnchlng acklon to the nose cut~ollt ~one o~ the spqctacle~i.

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In the region of the open mouth of the case, the material that forms tlle inller lining is shown as being stitched directly, ie flat against, the rnaterial of the outer cover.
The material of the inner lining may alternatively be folded over to form a hem, if desired. Also, other l~lethods of securement, besides stitching, may be employed: for exa~ple, the use of adhesives.

A button 45 is included for attaching the case to a shirt pocket. It ls pre~erred that some means ~though not necessarily a button) for securing the c~e to t~le clothir~g be provided. A frictiotl-grip clip of conventional type may replace the button, as reguired. In fact, even if the case of the invention were not secured to the pocket, ie if tlle case were permitted to fall out o~ the pocket, it would still be still a useful advantage to retain the spectacles firtnly in the case, as is made possible in -the invention, in order to keep the spectacles safe if the case should fall.

The spectacles case of the invention finds partlcular appllcatlon for such persons as tool setters, auto mechanics, etc, where the person is changing incessa~tly ~ro~ close-u~ to distant vision, and conse~uently wllere th~:re l~i a n~ed ~r the ~as~ -to permik rapid removal and ln~erkl~n o~ the ~peckacle~, and yet wh~re there is an ov~ri~ling n~d ~ thc ~pectaGle~ to be retainecl more securely than has ~uen poasible with the conventional spec~cicle ca~e~.

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With the case of the invention, the person guickly develops the technique of removing the spectacles from the face, foldin~ them, and inserting them into the ca~;e, all in a single motion of the one hand. Similarly, the person can extract the spectacles from the case, unfold them, and place them on the face, as a single-hand operation.

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Claims (4)

1. CLAIM 1. Spectacle case, wherein:
   
   the case includes an outer cover and an inner lining;
   
   the outer cover is of relatively thick and rigid material;
   
   the inner lining is of relatively thin material, having substantially no stiffness;
   
   the outer cover is so shaped and arranged as to be in the form of a tube, which is closed at a bottom portion of the tube, and open so as to form a mouth for receiving spectacles at an opposite, top, portion of the tube;
   
   the inner lining is so shaped and arranged as to be in the form of a tube, which is closed at a bottom portion of the tube, and open so as to form a mouth for receiving spectacles at an opposite, top, portion of the tube;
   
   the top portion of the inner lining is secured to the top portion of the outer cover;
   
   the bottom portion of the inner lining is secured to the bottom portion of the outer cover;
   
   and a centre portion of the inner lining, located between the said top and bottom portions, is substantially not secured to the outer cover, but is loose and free to move laterally with respect to the outer cover.
2. CLAIM 2. Case of claim 1, wherein the centre portion is resiliently expandable, whereby spectacles, upon insertion into the case, can be forced through the centre portion as a result of stretching action by the centre portion, and the centre portion is so located and arranged that, when the spectacles have been so inserted, the centre portion exerts a resilient grip around and upon a nose cut-out zone of the spectacles.
3. CLAIM 3. Case of claim 2, wherein the centre portion of the lining is provided with a band of elastomeric material, which is so positioned and arranged upon the lining as to create a pinched waist in the centre portion of the inner lining.
4. CLAIM 4. Case of claim 1, wherein the case includes a means for securing the case to a shirt pocket or the like.