Pen for receiving eyeglasses

• US 20020012564A1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Contour Optik Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Contour Optik Incorporated
• Inventors: Chao, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,632,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/195
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/04 Spectacle cases; Pince-nez cases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/20 with other articles having storage compartments with lighters B43K29/16; writing implements functioning as, or combined with, writing implement receptacles B43K31/00

Abstract

A pen or flashlight for receiving eyeglasses includes a pen barrel or housing and a writing tip unit or flashlight unit. The pen barrel or housing includes a body which is adapted to receive a pair of eyeglasses therein, and which has open front and rear ends, and a fixed rear cap which is mounted fixedly on and which closes the rear end of the barrel body or housing. The writing tip or flashlight unit includes an openable front cap which has a front end and a rear end that is attached to and that closes the front end of the barrel body or housing. The writing tip unit also includes a writing tip which is confined within the front cap and which extends from the front end of the front cap. In another embodiment, the flashlight unit is secured to a sidewall of the housing and the housing is formed as two separable portions. One or both ends of the pen barrel or housing may be formed with integrally formed closed end portions and in one embodiment a writing tip is provided at one end of the housing and a flashlight unit is secured to a sidewall thereof. In another embodiment, the eyeglass case comprises a pair of elongated portions hinged at one end with a flashlight positioned at an opposite end such as for illuminating reading material. In another embodiment, the flashlight is provided on a surface of the eyeglass case an projects a light array generally perpendicular thereto. A mirror may also be provided for reflecting an image illuminated by the flashlight.

Claims

1. A flashlight assembly comprising:

a housing which is adapted to receive a pair of eyeglasses therein and which has an open first end for inserting said pair of eyeglasses therethrough and a fixed rear cap which is mounted fixedly and non-removably on and which closes a second end of said housing; and

a flashlight unit including an openable front cap which has a front end and a rear end that is attached to and that closes said first end of said barrel body, said flashlight unit including a light emitting member and associated power source.

2. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear cap is press fitted within said second end of said housing.

3. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear cap has an outer surface which is formed with an annular groove, said barrel body being sleeved on said rear cap and having an inner surface which is formed with an annular projection that engages fittingly said annular groove in said rear cap, thereby retaining said rear cap on said barrel body.

4. The flashlight as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flashlight unit is mounted rotatably on said housing, and is formed with a retaining edge, said housing being formed with a retaining edge that engages said retaining edge of said flashlight unit, thereby positioning said flashlight unit on said housing.

5. The flashlight as claimed in claim 4, wherein said flashlight unit is rotatable about an axis, which is perpendicular to said housing, for opening and closing said first end of said housing.

6. The flashlight as claimed in claim 4, wherein said flashlight unit is rotatable about an axis, which is parallel to said housing, for opening and closing said first end of said housing.

7. The flashlight as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first end of said housing has a surface which is formed with a pivot hole having an inner surface which is formed with two parallel annular grooves, said front cap having a rear end surface which includes an axially extending pivot pin that extends integrally and forwardly therefrom and that engages fittingly said pivot hole in said housing, said pivot pin having an outer surface which is formed with two annular projections that engage respectively and fittingly said annular grooves in said housing, whereby, said front cap can rotate about said pivot pin.

8. A flashlight as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a key chain having one end secured to said housing.

9. A flashlight as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light emitting member comprises a light emitting diode.

10. A flashlight as claimed in claim 9 wherein said flashlight unit includes an actuating switch.

11. A flashlight comprising:

a hollow body which is adapted to receive a pair of eyeglasses therein having an opening at one end, the opposite end of said hollow body having an integrally formed portion closing off the interior of said hollow body thereof; and

a flashlight unit having first and second ends, said first end being connectable to said one end of said hollow body to selectively close off said opening, said flashlight unit further including a light emitting device protrudable from said second end, said eyeglasses being receivable within said hollow body through said opening.

12. A flashlight as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flashlight unit is movably secured to said body.

13. A flashlight as claimed in claim 12 wherein said body has a longitudinal axis and said flashlight unit is movable about an axis extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

14. A flashlight as claimed in claim 12 wherein said body has a longitudinal axis and said flashlight is movable about an axis extending parallel to said longitudinal axis.

15. A flashlight comprising:

an elongated hollow body having first and second ends, said first end being open to enable a pair of eyeglasses to be inserted therethrough and into said hollow body, said second end including a substantially nonremovable portion closing said second end;

a flashlight assembly having a first portion securable to said hollow body to selectively close said opening, said flashlight assembly including a light emitting tip positioned remote from said first portion.

16. A flashlight as claimed in claim 15 wherein said second end of said hollow body includes a cap secured thereto.

17. A flashlight as claimed in claim 15 wherein said hollow body includes an integrally formed portion closing off said second end.

18. A case for storage of a pair of eyeglasses comprising:

a housing having a first and second portion together defining a substantially enclosed space for accommodating a pair of eyeglasses when said first and second portions are in a first closed position;

said first and second portions being relatively movable with respect to each other to afford access to said enclosed space and to enable removable and replacement of said eyeglasses; and

a flashlight provided on one of said first and second portions.

19. A flashlight as claimed in claim 18 wherein said open ends are joined when said first and second portions are in a closed position.

20. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said first and second portions comprise elongated generally cylindrically shaped members each having an opening at one end.

21. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said flashlight is pivotably secured to said one of said first and second portions.

22. A flashlight as claimed in claim 21 wherein said flashlight includes a pair of spaced arm members, said arm members being pivotably secured to said one of said first and second portions.

23. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a hinge interconnecting said first and second portions.

24. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein the other of said first and second portions includes a writing instrument at an end thereof.

25. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said flashlight includes a light emitting diode.

26. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said housing includes a key chain having one end secured thereto.

27. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said housing includes a pocket clip secured thereto.

28. A flashlight as claimed in claim 27 wherein said housing includes a key chain having one end secured thereto.

29. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said first and second portions are hingedly interconnected.

30. A flashlight as claimed in claim 29 wherein said first and second portions are elongated and hingedly interconnected at one end thereof.

31. A flashlight as claimed in claim 30 further comprising a flashlight provided on one of said first and second portions.

32. A flashlight as claimed in claim 31 wherein said flashlight is positioned so as to emit an array of light in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface of said one of said first and second portions.

33. A flashlight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said flashlight is positioned so as to emit an array of light in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface of said one of said first and second portions.

34. A flashlight as claimed in claim 33 further comprising a reflective member provided on said surface, said reflective member being operative to reflect an image illuminated by said flashlight.