AU2015268600B2

AU2015268600B2 - Eyewear retention device

Info

Publication number: AU2015268600B2
Application number: AU2015268600A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald Wade Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-05-08
Filing date: 2015-12-09
Publication date: 2016-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2029-05-07
Also published as: AU2015268600A1

Abstract

Abstract An eyewear retention device is disclosed that includes a length of resilient cord, such as cabling having a smooth plastic outer sheath, and terminating at each end in a tapered, rubberized retention tubing, and including retention end grommets molded against the ends of the cabling to prevent the slipping off of the retention tubing from the cabling. The combination of the resilient cord and the retention tubing produces a tensioned arc such that in addition to retaining eyeglasses to the vestment of a user when not in use, the retention device forms a suspended arc over the wear's upper torso such that the device does not contact the wear's upper torso or their vestment when donned over a wear's eyes.

Description

Gross-Reference to Related Applications

This application is a di^isionai application derived from Australian Ikteni Aj^iieafion !%, 211)9244215:5 (1^1/1.1^009/043156. WO 2009/Ί 37p>S7), claiming:: priority of US Appticatiop: Nos:. 61:/031539 and 12?*i 42323, the entire contents of which are incorporated by re fermesi herein.

Technical Field

The present inventipir relates generally to devices .that retain eyewear on a user. In greater particularity tits present invention relates to eyewear retainers that extend around rear of a wearer’s head and upper neck. IJackground Art

For many decades, probably longer, eyewear users have attached strings, ciodi-based retainers, lightweight chains, and small topes to eyeglasses:to loosely retain them upon a wearer's upper torso when not positioned /upon the wearer’s head Several decades ago, “Croakiesf were introduced: which are essentially neoprene: retainer straps having a tubular portidp ihto which eyeglass temple's slip and afear flat portion that extends aroitnd the rear of a user ’s head. Cmakies immediately became popular with skiers, fisherman, and hunters who utilise polarized sunglasses and strongly tinted lenses t& provide prdt^ti0»,:froirt''intense glare and reflected light off water, ice, and snow, and other refleetiye suriaces in briliiant sunlight.: Other types of lenses have also developed in popular culture to provide difeent types of tinting and appearances, and profeciive sirategies;from glare and the sun’s damaging ϋV light have arisen, In response, a wide variety of colors and patterns have been irdrodrtced ibr Groakies and. other of the atbremenironed retainers.

However, with the advent of more stylized eyeglasses, and especiallyfoe darkef tinted glass and plastic (e.g. polycarbonate) lenses, especially in npn-prescription type sunglass lenses, wearer ’s are more frequently required to dismount their glasses in order to read close-up materials pr inspect materials that are viewed in relatively low-light conditions. For example, it is quite cornruon for .a fishermen, skippers, or first mate declfoands to discard their glasses whoa going underneath the top deck of a boat to retrieve fishing taefele, read charts, or view other navigational aids during bright Sunlight hours in ordef that they may he able to see the items they are utilizing. Hence, Creakier and other types of retained devices have become popular for outdoorsmen and sportsmen alike seeking to provide the safety and proximity retention, of their glasses while providingsthe -flexibility to discard them quickly and uiitixe their eyes in relatively Sowliglti conditions.

Unfortunately, Croakies ami other types ; of eyewear retaining devices piaee a burden upon tlie wearer in that the older retention devices lay directly against the back of the neck or upper back portion,· or; around the collar of a shirt Suchi locations are inconvenient,because the retention, device itself becomes potentially ensnared In the collar andfor buttons-of the wearer’siyesbpent which might hinder the re^^|piic.atip-jf»:-i.ciir;- ng. of the glasses over the wearer: eyes. Further, for coilarless vestments and similar, or even for a: sMftiess. jitdiyidhalc tlie. |ei0ntion lanyards whether chains, string, or neoprene bb^d retainers like flriiakteSs hocoTOe coated with sweat,, suntan lotion, protective emollients, and other types of : debrison: the "Upper torso of an individual. Such soiling; raakes the retention item unsightiy and : ttnatiraetive,:: thereby defeating, the esthetic appeal that some of today5 s; expensive eyeglasses exhibit. Over time, corrosion: from salt and oilier types of chemicals on the outer layer of the skin can. even connde or diminish the retention effectiveness of the retention device, and also cause: disco lorafiopdnd fading of the retention device’seplorsand patterns.

Bence, what is needed is an eyeglass retention device that maintains the full utility of the retention objective for eyewear, while avoiding all of the difticuHies of past eyewear retention devices.

Disclosure of Invention

An eyewear retention deyiee ia disclosed that includes a length of resilient cord, such as eabling having a smooth plastic outer sheath, and terminating at each end in a tapered, rubberixed retention tubing, and also having retention end gromincts rnoMed against the ends of the cahlibg to preveht the slipping off of the retention tiibing. B ri ef Description of tfa e D raw mgs

An eyewear retention dcvi.ee ineorpoiMing; the features of the apparatus ate depicted .in the attached drawings which;· form a portion of the disclosure, and wherein: FIG. fa is a elevationai drawing In partial section of a preferred embodiment: of the invention; FIG. !h is an elevationai drawing of one of the retention tubes of a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG, 1c is Μ end view of ohh of the retention tubes; :p0Gk 2a is pi Mevational drawing in! sectionof a highly tapered embodiment of one of the retention tubes of the invention; FIG. lb is; an elevational drawing of tbe highiv tpored embodiments of One of the retention tubes of the invention; FIGi -2c- is an end view of one of the highly tapered embodiments of one of the retention tubes of the invention;

Fit; 3 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the generalized semi-circular shape and retention tubing positioned against the end stop grommets; FIG, 4 is a perspective view of the invention placed upon the end portions of the temples Of a typical pair of eyeglasses showing the genera! placement of the temples inserted with in the retention t u blog; FIG. 5 is an end perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and, FIG. d is a plan view of the invention showing the retention tubing repositioned along the; retention cable to expose the crimped end grommets that prevent the retention tnbingfrom • detaching fromfife retention cabling.

Best Mode tor Currying Out Invention

Referring to the drawings for a better nndeiStandmg of the function and Structure of the invention. Figs, l a-e shows the invention 10 including a cable 11 having a tightly wound wiring structure and coated with a relatively feictionless plastic outer insulation. The cable 11 is of sufficient diameter and internal wiring resiliency such that its shape is resiliently biased toward a aero axis deflection orientation. In other words, the cable does not easily exhibit deflection uWMOry, as one would find in a solid copper or aluminum wire of equal- diameter, and resists aitcnipts to deferm the cable and maintains a linear shape in all Weather conditions. Invention 10 includes retention tubes 12 at each end of cable 11, Each tube 12 includes a temple retention Opening 11 having a sufficient diameter to pass over the end portions of a typically sized eyeglass temple. Retention lube 12 opening 18 F also sized to exhibit a certain friction characteristics: to allow easy sliding ox the .retention tubmg 12 onto the-end poriioni of a typical eyeglass temple; while providing sufficient fiietionalqimlities to avoid easy removal. Generally, the retention tubing: P consisiyqf ilextble nnd psii sent rubber, or fike-compound, and has low friction qualifies: on its exterior. The retention tubing: 12 includes a tapered portion Id defining a cable aperture 19 cooperatively sized to insert the end of the cable IT while maintaining continual circumferential contact around the cabling. Once the end of the cable has been passed through aperture; Iff and emerges through opening-13, a bead or ball; bearing 13: is: slid onto the end of cable i f through a channel: 17 traversing the: center of bead 13, A:enmp:pr gidnuhef 13: Is then nppii:ed:fd:.;the;eab!e p.pfevenf'bead. 13. from: slipping off cable ,i.L The: crimp or grommet 1¾ is eompmssed;usmg:^:fe to engage and peiihanently affix to; thePaMe, thereby forming the stop at the end of cable 11, The bead may hemade ;bf plastic, metal, cm ceramic, and the diameter of channel 17 should be sized to allow cable 11 todfeeiy pass through bead 13 allowing the cable 11 to rotate and translate through; the head: 13, Oronlmet 15 may: he made of any: material having suitable deformation characteristics to permanently affix tit to cable 11, hut copper or brass Is preferred due to: its benign and low oxidation qualities, $hen affixed to the end of the cable 11, the grommet: 15 bead 13 combination prevents: the:passage of the end of cable Γ1 through apultire If), C)nce the bead and igrommet: combination: has been secured to the end of cable 11, tension may be applied to Pablo 11 tand theioabld :aud bead-grommet combination may be carefully pulled: through open lug 1 § to seeure the bead 13 against the internal cosyuncture tapering 16 and the sidewalls Of retention tube 11:, Upon the engagement of bead against the internal sidewalls of tapered portion 16, bead 13 will exert circumferential pressure upon the upper portion of tapered portion 16 to secure the bead 13 within the retention tube 12 and. thereby, the end portion 14 pf cable 11 within the retention tubing. The assembly of the retention tube 12 and grommet-bead eombioafrondaidentical for each end of cable 11, liefeing now to Fip, 2a-c, one may see a second embodiment of retention tube 12. m accommodate some glasses having relatively fhip temples, retention tube 22 may be affully tapered coi»^h:8truetttre.:'jiom:,ppeni.ng 21 to aperture 23. As may be,iS^s,mhoilbW· MtetiorOf retention tube 22 is sized into an elongated conical shape so that ierppies of more slender sizes may be; inserted within opening 21 and slid along the interior of retention tube 22 until sufficient circumferential frictional foree us applied ίο the: end of the iMerfed temple: to stop the progress of the tempic within the hollow linenor of the retention: tnbe 2:2, This shape allows fpp varying applicubilhy for dipjreiif size: temples and also: provides additional retention: security by .increasing cireumfereniial friction on temples: inserted within the hollow Interior of 22v As before, the grommet-bead combination (not shown) are affixed to the end of cable II ami pulled tlfrpugh opening 2! uptif bead 13 engages:the interior of 22 toward adjacent to aperture 23,

Referring now to Fig. %one mgy-see ^ Jn.veution·· i d confonned to & substantially-senn~eirculaf of arc shape 26. Due tohhe.resiliency of the cable II, retainer It! maintains the are shape 2F when frislah^^ thcfemples ofeyeglasses.

Eelerrmg now: to Fig. 4, as shown,retention tubing 1.2·.is.· inserlod-..oyoF:enti pottions of the t^hples of the shown eyeglasses 2? until end portions of the temples 31: are fully engaged Within the interior of fhe; retention tube: 12. A sttfficient: length cn cabling Π is provided to allow for the dodhihg of the combination dfiheiihveniiott 10 and eyeglasses 27, or sunglasses as the case pray he, overa wearer's, head while In place, and is sfeed to accommodate baseball caps: and similar sun visor protective i head: gear.:

Importantly, the resiliency of the cabling 11 in combination with the secure structure of retention tubing 12, with its inherent resiliency, creates anahterna! resilience within cabling 11 such that the cab! e maintains an elevated: arc position above a wearer's rear neck and lower head area:..:Ther:elbre!:..duetto the internal resiliency pf tlid cable, and the positioning of the tubing:on the:eyeglass temples, the cabling does not contact a wearer's back or collar, or other vestment worn by a user, but instead maintains;a spaced position extending backwards from the user. Further, the;ahg!e of the retention, tubing, and/or the conical tapered portion, may be altered to allow for the redirection of the cable portion into a. superior elevated position over a wearer's upper hack and neck, i?br example, 56ί^ν(^ί·:ί^#®ΡΡ:·.©ί eyeglass·temples extend downward sharply over a wearer’s ears. An angled rptentlpn tube allows for correction of this downward angle to normalixe the direction of the cable 11 backward to maintain a: suspended arc in the cable as it extends rearwardly fromsaid user's head such that the cable does not contact the wearer or his/her vestment.

Referring now to Fig, 6, one may see that a pair of beads 12 have been slid over the ends of the cabling ii with the retention tubing 12 displaced away bom the copper-crimps or grommets 15 for illustration purposes to; expose cable end portions 14. As shown, grommets 15 have been compressed (e.g, l^lBay not he,displaced in either

direction along cable 11, thereby preventing bead B from traversing Off the end of the cable IL

While I have shown my invention in one form, it will obvious to those skilled in the art that is not so limited bat is susceptible of various changes and modifications without depailing#o-m the '.spirit thereof For example, the inventor erwtsions that the wire Cable I f may be replaced by a resilient plastic or carbon fiber replacement member exhibiting resiliency characteristics similar to a plastic coated wound cable.

With reference to the use of the word(s) “comprise'- or “comprises” or “comprising” in the foregoing description and/or in the following claims, unless the context requires otherwise, those words are used on the basis and clear understanding that they are to be interpreted inclusively, rather than exclusively, and that each of those words is to be so interpreted in construing the foregoing description and/or the following claims.

Claims

Claims What is daimed is: 1. ,4n eyewear retention device, comprising: a. a resilient cable; b. a pair of temple retention tubes disposed around the ends of said cable; c. an end bead slidably encircling each end of said cable and a grommet affixed to the end of said cable thereby preventing said bead from sliding off said cable; and, d. wherein each said retention tube includes a cylindrical portionanda tapered portion on one end of said cylindrical portion, and wherein an end portion of said cable is disposed within said retention tube such that said bead is held against the interior walls of said tapered portion and said cable extends through said tapered portion to said other retention tube.
3. The eyewear retention device as recited in claim I, wherein said bead consists of material selected from the group of metal, plastic, or ceramic. 3. : The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 2i wherein said grommet is ttpdepf copper,
4. The: eyewear retention device as recited in claim 3, wherein said cable comprises an .arc .suspended, above a wear’s vestment when said eyewear retention device i§ donned by a user oyer their eyeg;
5. The eyewear retention device ias recited in claim 4. wherein said tapered portion comprises a hollow frustum:
6, The eyewear: retention device as recited; in claim 1, wherein said cable oomprises an arc suspended above a:.wear' $ vesfrnent: when said eyewear retention:device is donned by a user over their e>os. ?. The eyewe^'::i^ai^^devic^-M recited in claim 1. wherein said cable is plastic coated %. The. eyewear' Mepiiomdevtce: speeded in claim 1, wherein said retention tube is rubber.
9. The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 1. wherein said tapered portion comprises a hollow frustum.
10. The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 9, wherein retention tubes are sufficiently sized to cover a eyeglass tentple end portion such that elastomeric tension is developed within said retention device to cause said cable to extend rearwardly relative to a wearer in a suspended arte over the upper torso of said wearer without contacting said wearer or their vestment when said retention device is donned over said wearer's eyes.
11. The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 10. ^herein said tapered portion includes an angle that normalizes the direction of said cable rearward horn said usertshead in response to a curved end portion of an eyeglass temple. 12. lip eyewear retention, device as recited in claim I, wherein said tapered portion includes an angle that normalizes the' direction of said cable rearward: from Said user's head in response to a curved end portion; ofan eyeglass temple.
13. An eyewear retention device, comprising: a. a resilient cord; k a pair pfiemple retention means disposed aroohdihe ends of saidcofd; ¢. an end bead slidably encirclhg each end of said cord and prevented'hom sliding off said cord;: arid, d wherein each said retention means includes a tapered portion: on one end, and wherein: each: cord includes au end portion disposed witSiip/said retention means such that said bead is held against the i itettor w alk of said mmicd portion and said cable extends through said tapered portion to said other retention weans. :14, The eyewear retention device as recited m claim 13, wherein 'said, head consists of material selected from tire group of metal, ptastiefor ceramic,
15. The eyewear retention device as recited in plain*: 14, further including a crimp to prevent said head from Sliding offsatd cord. Id. The eyewear retemion device as reeded in elaim 15, wherein said cord forms an arc suspended above a Wear's vestment when said eyewear retention device is donned by a user over their eves.
17. The eyewear retention device as ratted in claim Hi, wherein said tapered portion comprises a hollow frustum.
18. The eyewear retention device as reeited in claim 17, Wherein said cord is plastic coated,
19. The eyewear retention device asi reeited in claim IT, wherein said retention means is comprised of robber. 24 The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 1¾ means comprises a billow frustum.
21, The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 20, wherein said iefeniiou means are suHletOntly elongated sneh that said retention means substantially covers an eyeglass temple and elasfonieric te^ saul iuienoon means to cause said cord to extend tearwaidiyipl^lwfoiltswearier in a suspended are over the upper torn) of said wearer without contamingsaid Wearer or their vestment
22. The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 21, wherein said retention means includes an angle to nonnalize the direction of said cord: tfearwatrd s^u'd user’s head in response to a c urved end portion of an eyeglass temple.
23. The eyewear retention device as recited in claim 13, wherein said tapered portion includes an angle to normalise the direction of said cord rearwafd from said user’s head in response to a curvedend portion of an eyeglass temple;
24. An eyewear retention device, comprising* a. a resilient member; b. a pair of temple retention tubes disposed around the ends of said resilient member; ¢. an end grommet enoireting each end of said resilient member compressed thereupon; d, a bead slidabiy encircling each end of said resi 1 ient member : and, e. wherein each said retention tube comprises a tubular frustum, and wherein an end portion of said resilient member is disposed within said retention tube such that said bead t$ held against the interior -walls of said retention tube, and wherein, said resilient member extends through the smaller diameter end of said retention tube.