Spectacles retaining strap with connected earplugs

• US 5,541,677 A
• Filed: 12/28/1994
• Issued: 07/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kirk Huhtala
• Original Assignee: Keith Huhtala, Kirk Huhtala
• Inventors: Huhtala, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US08/366,249
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 351/156, 351/158, 351/41, 351/53, 351/122, 351/123, 351/157, D24/106, D24/174, D16/309, D16/336, D16/339, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135, 24/3.3, 2/423, 2/426, 2/448, 128/864, 128/865, 128/866
• US Class Current: 351/156
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/12 External mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 3/003 Arrangements for fitting and securing to the head in the position of use

Abstract

Embodiments of a vision-hearing protection device are shown and described, each embodiment including an eyeglass retainer, for holding eyeglasses on the user'"'"'s head or around the neck, and earplugs connected to the retainer for protecting the user'"'"'s hearing. Preferably, the vision-hearing protection device includes a retraction feature wherein the earplugs may be quickly pulled in toward the retainer for more secure and compact "storage" and then quickly drawn out toward the ears for convenient reinsertion. In the preferred embodiment, the retainer is a hollow tube having three holes. A cord slidably extends through the hollow tube, with the cord ends extending out from the two holes that are nearer the retainer ends to attach to the earplugs, and with the cord middle portion extending out from the third hole in the rear or middle portion of the hollow tube. The middle portion of the cord may be pulled out away from the retainer to pull the earplugs closer to the retainer for storage, or, the earplugs may be pulled away from the retainer for reinsertion in the user'"'"'s ears.

Claims

1. A vision-hearing protection device for installation on a user'"'"'s eyeglasses, the protection device comprising:

an eyeglass retainer comprising a hollow tube with a tube wall having two holes, said hollow tube having two ends for connection to the eyeglasses and a retainer middle portion between the two ends for extending behind the user'"'"'s head,

two earplugs for insertion into the user'"'"'s ears, and

connection means comprising a cord extending through the hollow tube and having a cord middle portion and two ends, the two ends extending out of the retainer through the two holes and being attached to the earplugs, connecting the earplugs to the retainer.

2. A protection device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tube wall has a third hole, located between the two holes, through which the cord middle portion extends out from the retainer, for being pulled by the user to pull the cord ends in toward the retainer.

3. A vision-hearing protection device comprising:

eyeglasses having two temples,

an eyeglass retainer comprising a hollow tube with a tube wall having two holes, said hollow tube having two ends for connection to the eyeglass temples, and a retainer middle portion between the two ends for extending behind a user'"'"'s head,

two earplugs for insertion into the user'"'"'s ears, and

connection means comprising a cord extending through the hollow tube and having a cord middle portion and two ends, the two ends extending out of the retainer through the two holes and being attached to the earplugs, connecting the earplugs to the retainer.

4. A protection device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the tube wall has a third hole, located between the two holes, through which the cord middle portion extends out from the retainer, for being pulled by the user to pull the cord ends in toward the retainer.