The embodiments herein relate generally to eyeglass retainers and other devices designed to maintain eyeglasses in a desired position on a user's body.
The majority of individuals wear eyeglasses, which may include prescription eyewear, sunglasses, protective eyewear, or the like. These eyeglasses comprise a frame to secure lenses above the eyes and a pair of temples that extend along the sides of the user's head and around the ears. This configuration is designed to keep the eyeglass on the user's head. However, if the user sweats or engages in an athletic or cardiovascular type activity, the eyeglass often slips on the user's face or completely falls off the head.
There exist a variety of eyeglass retainers that comprise a band with ends that are secured to the temple tips of the eyeglass. The band is placed around the user's head or neck region to maintain the eyeglass in a desired position around the head or neck. Typically, the eyeglass retainer includes an adjustment mechanism to tighten or loosen the band to comfortably fit around the user's head region. However, these eyeglass retainers are limited because they can unintentionally loosen and/or slip off the user's head, along with the eyeglass. This is more common when the user engages in aggressive activities and sports such as windsurfing, wakeboarding, sailing, rafting, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, or the like.
As such, there is a need in the industry for a leash apparatus for use with an eyeglass retaining band that serves as a secondary safety device that minimizes the chance of loss and/or damage to the eyeglass.
A leash apparatus for use with an eyeglass retaining band positioned around a user to maintain an eyeglass at a desired position on a body of the user is provided. The leash apparatus is configured to prevent loss of the eyeglass secured to the retaining band when the user engages in an activity. The leash apparatus comprises a resilient tether comprising a first end and a second end, the tether configured to extend or compress to a desired length, a first ring mechanically coupled to the first end of the tether and configured to be secured around the eyeglass retaining band, and a clip mechanically coupled to the second end of the tether and comprising a pair of jaws, the clip comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a separation distance between the jaws to be sufficiently large to receive an article on the body of the user, wherein the tether is configured to adjust to the desired length to permit the jaws to secure the article therein.
In alternative embodiments, the leash apparatus may be used to retain other items to the user's body such as hats, cameras, keys, wallets, or the like.
The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the figures disclose one or more embodiments of the present invention.
As depicted in
The leash apparatus comprises coiled tether 22, which is preferably a polyurethane resilient member that is configured to stretch or compress to a desired length. Each end of coiled tether 22 comprises a loop that is configured to receive snap hook 24. As depicted in
In certain embodiments of the invention, the eyeglass retaining device comprises strip 10, which is preferably a flexible neoprene member that is ¼″ thick. End caps 12 are preferably made from plastic and are coupled to both ends of strip 10. Specifically, each end cap 12 comprises a slot to receive an end of strip 10. An adhesive such as glue may be used to secure the components together. Each end cap 12 further comprises an opening to receive end cap insert 14. End cap insert 14 may have any decorative markings, names, logos, or the like, to enhance aesthetics of the eye glass retaining device. Each end cap 12 further comprises a nub, which is inserted into tube strip 16. The pair of tube strips 16 is secured over the temple tips of glasses 32.
In operation, a user secures large O-ring 18 of the leash apparatus around strip 10 as depicted in
Although the figures depict clip 26 secured to shirt 34, it shall be appreciated that clip 26 may be secured to any article of clothing or object on the user's body including, but not limited to, shorts, pants, jackets, other shirts, belts, or the like. In this configuration, the leash apparatus will remain attached to shirt 34 and will retain glasses 32 and the eyeglass retaining device in the event they become detached from the user's body.
As depicted in
It shall be appreciated that the components of the leash apparatus described in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. It shall be appreciated that the components of the leash apparatus described herein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.
The application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/031,611 filed on Jul. 31, 2014, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62031611 | Jul 2014 | US |