Case for multiple pairs of eyeglasses

• US 20030178324A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Courtland Joe Watson
• Original Assignee: Courtland Joe Watson
• Inventors: Watson, Courtland Joe
• Granted Patent: US 6,726,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/6
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/04 Spectacle cases; Pince-nez cases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/007 with spring means

Abstract

A case for multiple pairs of eyeglasses has a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a front surface and an opposing back surface and defines a volume for receiving eyeglasses with a length orientation of the eyeglasses substantially parallel to the front of the case. The case is formed from a cover portion and a base portion, hinged together at a pivot line that extends across the bottom of the case parallel to the length orientation of a pair of eyeglasses stored in the case. Preferably, the pivot line is offset on the bottom of the case so as to be closer to the back than the front. The pivot line forms a part of a mating line between the cover portion and the base portion. Preferably, the mating line extends obliquely upward from the bottom, across the ends of the case, and across the top. A divider separates the internal volume of the case into two compartments, each accommodating one pair of eyeglasses. The compartments are offset obliquely, allowing the top-to-bottom dimension of the case to be minimized for easier, more convenient carrying in a jacket or shirt pocket, while still allowing the use of rigid material, providing better protection for the eyeglasses than can be provided in a soft-sided case.

Claims

1. A case for multiple pairs of eyeglasses comprising:

an elongate box having at least a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a front surface and an opposing back surface and defining a volume adapted to receive at least two pair of eyeglasses with a length orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses substantially parallel to said front surface and with a width orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses substantially perpendicular to said front surface;

said box being formed by a base portion and a cover portion operably hinged together at a pivot line that extends across said bottom surface substantially parallel to said length orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses, said pivot line defining at least part of a mating line between said base portion and said cover portion; and

a divider pivotally connected to an interior portion of said box along an edge substantially parallel to said length orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses;

such that said case defines at least two separate compartments, each compartment adapted to receive a separate pair of eyeglasses.

2. The case of claim 1, wherein said divider includes at least one spring member operably arranged along said edge to bias said divider to a position intermediate said two separate compartments when said cover portion is opened from said base portion.

3. The case of claim 1, wherein said pivot line is offset an unequal distance between said front surface and said back surface such that a first portion of said bottom surface defined between said pivot line and said front surface is greater than a second portion of said bottom surface defined between said mating line and said back surface.

4. The case of claim 1, wherein said bottom surface forms an angled surface that provides a stable base to counterbalance said case from tipping over when said cover portion is opened from said base portion.

5. The case of claim 1, wherein said elongate box further includes a pair of opposing ends and wherein said mating line extends upward obliquely across each of said opposing ends.

6. The case of claim 1, wherein said cover portion has an open position and a closed position and said pivot line further comprises at least one spring member operably arranged along said pivot line to bias said cover position to at least one of said open position and said closed position.

7. The case of claim 6, wherein said spring has a detent corresponding to the open position, whereby the case is held in the open position by the detent.

8. The case of claim 6, further comprising a dampener mechanism disposed so as provide a retarding force opposing the bias of said spring member.

9. The case of claim 1, further comprising a latch mechanism operably arranged between said base portion and said cover portion proximate said mating line to releasably said cover portion to said base portion.

10. The case of claim 9, wherein said latch mechanism includes a magnet.

11. The case of claim 9, wherein said latch mechanism is a push-latch.

12. The case of claim 1, wherein said case includes two separate compartments and each compartment is oriented obliquely relative to said front surface and said back surface such that a depth of said case is less than a depth corresponding to two pair of eyeglasses stacked horizontally on each other.

13. A case for multiple pairs of eyeglasses comprising:

an elongate rigid box having at least a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a front surface and an opposing back surface and defining a volume adapted to receive two pair of eyeglasses with a length orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses substantially parallel to said front surface and with a width orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses substantially perpendicular to said front surface;

said box being formed by a base portion and a cover portion operably hinged together at a pivot line defining at least part of a mating line between said base portion and said cover portion; and

an interior portion of said box defining two compartments, each compartment adapted to receive one of said two pairs of eyeglasses with said pairs of eyeglasses being oriented obliquely relative to said front surface and said back surface such that a depth of said case is less than a depth corresponding to two pair of eyeglasses stacked horizontally on each other.

14. The case of claim 13, further comprising:

a substantially planar divider pivotally connected to said interior portion of said box along an edge substantially parallel to said length orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses, such that at least one surface of each of said two compartments is defined by said planar divider when said case is closed.

15. The case of claim 13, wherein said divider includes at least one spring member operably arranged along said edge to bias said planar divider to a position intermediate said two separate compartments when said cover portion is opened from said base portion.

16. The case of claim 15, further comprising a dampener mechanism disposed so as provide a retarding force opposing the bias of said spring member.

17. The case of claim 13, wherein said pivot line extends across said bottom surface substantially parallel to said length orientation of said pairs of eyeglasses.

18. The case of claim 17, wherein said pivot line is offset an unequal distance between said front surface and said back surface such that a first portion of said bottom surface defined between said pivot line and said front surface is greater than a second portion of said bottom surface defined between said mating line and said back surface.

19. The case of claim 17, wherein said bottom surface forms an angled surface that provides a stable base to counterbalance said case from tipping over when said cover portion is opened from said base portion.

20. The case of claim 13, wherein said elongate box further includes a pair of opposing ends and wherein said mating line extends upward obliquely across each of said opposing ends.

21. The case of claim 13, wherein said cover portion has an open position and a closed position and said pivot line further comprises at least one spring member operably arranged along said pivot line to bias said cover position to at least one of said open position and said closed position.

22. The case of claim 13, further comprising a latch mechanism operably arranged between said base portion and said cover portion proximate said mating line to releasably said cover portion to said base portion.

23. The case of claim 22, wherein said latch mechanism is a push-latch.

24. A case for multiple pairs of eyeglasses comprising:

an elongate box having a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, a back, a front, and a pair of opposing ends, said box comprising;

a base portion and a cover portion mated together at a mating line, said mating line extending across said bottom surface proximate and substantially parallel to said back, upward obliquely across each of said opposing ends, and across said top surface proximate and substantially parallel to said front, said base portion and said cover portion connected by a hinge, said hinge located along said mating line on said bottom surface.

25. The case of claim 24, further comprising a substantially planar divider disposed within said box, such that a case having two compartments for eyeglasses is formed.

26. A case for at least one pair of eyeglasses comprising:

an elongate box having a top, a bottom, a front and a back formed by a base portion and a cover portion operably hinged together at a pivot line, said pivot line defining at least part of a mating line between said base portion and said cover portion; and

means for providing a stable base to counterbalance said case from tipping over when said cover portion is opened from said base portion and said bottom of said box is placed on a surface by articulating said bottom of said box to form an angled bottom when said cover portion is opened from said base portion.

27. The case of claim 26, wherein said angled bottom is formed by disposing said pivot line on said bottom of said box at an unequal distance between said front and said back such that a first portion of said angled bottom defined between said pivot line and said front surface is greater than a second portion of said angled bottom defined between said mating line and said back.

28. The case of claim 26, further comprising means for dividing said case into at least two separate compartments, each compartment adapted to receive a separate pair of eyeglasses.

29. The case of claim 28, wherein said means for dividing said case into at least two compartments comprises a substantially planar divider pivotally connected to an interior portion of said box along an edge substantially parallel to said pivot line.

30. The case of claim 29, further comprising means for biasing said planar divider to a position intermediate said two separate compartments when said cover portion is opened from said base portion.

31. The case of claim 30, wherein said means for biasing said planar divider includes at least one spring member operably arranged along said edge.

32. The case of claim 26, wherein said cover portion has an open position and a closed position and further comprising means for biasing said cover position to at least one of said open position and said closed position.

33. The case of claim 32, further comprising dampener means for providing a retarding force opposing the bias of said biasing means.

34. The case of claim 32, wherein said means for biasing said cover position comprises at least one spring member operably arranged along said pivot line.

35. The case of claim 26, wherein said cover portion has an open position and a closed position and further comprising means for latching said case in said closed position.

36. The case of claim 35, wherein said means for latching comprises a latch mechanism operably arranged between said base portion and said cover portion proximate said mating line to releasably said cover portion to said base portion.

37. A case for at least one pair of eyeglasses comprising:

an elongate box having at least a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, a front surface and an opposing back surface and defining a volume adapted to receive at least one pair of eyeglasses with a length orientation of said at least one pair of eyeglasses substantially parallel to said front surface and with a width orientation of said at least one pair of eyeglasses substantially perpendicular to said front surface;

said box being formed by a base portion and a cover portion operably hinged together at a pivot line that extends across said bottom surface substantially parallel to said length orientation of said at least one pair of eyeglasses, said pivot line defining at least part of a mating line between said base portion and said cover portion.

38. A method for preventing tipping of an eyeglass case comprising the steps of:

providing an eyeglasses case having at least a top and an opposing articulated bottom, a front and an opposing back, the case being formed by a base portion and a cover portion operably hinged together at a pivot line, said pivot line disposed on said articulated bottom and forming the articulation of said articulated bottom, said pivot line defining at least part of a mating line between said base portion and said cover portion, said articulated bottom forming an angled bottom surface that provides a stable base to counterbalance said case from tipping over when said cover portion is opened from said base portion;

opening said cover portion from said base portion; and

placing said bottom surface of said case on a flat surface.