Crush-heat resistant case for spectacle protection

• US 5,590,760 A
• Filed: 12/27/1994
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicholas L. Astarb
• Original Assignee: Nicholas L. Astarb
• Inventors: Astarb, Nicholas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US08/364,254
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 206/5, 206/521, 206/6, 206/594, 2/247, 383/86, 383/109-111, 383/114, 383/117, 383/120
• US Class Current: 206/6
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/04 Spectacle cases; Pince-nez cases
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0541 Eyeglasses or spectacles

Abstract

A case is disclosed for protecting small objects, such as glasses, by providing heat and breakage resistance. The case has an exterior pocket, with a drainage area; a protective case; and a liner. The exterior pocket consists a pocket flap, a body front, and a pair of gussets. The pocket flap is provided with closure means to secure the pocket flap to the body front. The protective case is a rigid, hollow, non-circular cylinder having one closed end and dimensioned to provide a friction fit within the pocket. The protective case can be formed from mirror image halves provided with sealing seams which extend at right angles to the cylinder and a first to break point. The liner is a hollow, non-circular cylinder manufactured from a non-abrasive, cushioning material approximately twice the length of the protective case. Optionally, the case is provided with a belt attachment loop to affix the case to a user'"'"'s belt. It is preferable that all materials meet standards as set forth by the emergency services or industrial application.

Claims

1. A assembly for protecting small objects by providing heat and breakage resistance having

an exterior pocket, said exterior pocket having a pocket flap, said pocket flap having a length and a width,

a body front, said body front having a length and a width,

said length being less than that of said pocket flap and a pair of gussets, said pair of gussets having a length and a width, said length being equal to the length of said body front;

closure means, said closure means securing said pocket flap to said body front,

drainage means, said drainage means preventing water from accumulating within said pocket,

one of each of said gussets is secured along its length to either length side of said body front, giving a width slightly greater than the width of said body front, wherein securing said gussets and said body front to said pocket flap along the width, form pleats between said gussets and said body front

a rigid, shatterproof, protective case, said protective case being a hollow, non-circular cylinder, formed from mirror image halves, having one closed end and dimensioned to fit within said exterior pocket;

a non-abrasive, cushioning liner, said liner being a hollow, non-circular cylinder having one closed end, covering the interior and exterior of said protective case,

wherein said liner and protective case are placed within said exterior pocket.

2. The method of protecting small objects by providing heat and breakage resistance comprising,

an exterior pocket, said exterior pocket having

a pocket flap, said pocket flap having a length and a width,

a body front, said body front having a length and a width, said length being less than that of said pocket flap and

a pair of gussets, said pair of gussets having a length and a width, said length being equal to the length of said body front,

closure means, said closure means securing said pocket flap to said body front,

drainage means, said drainage means preventing water from accumulating within said pocket,

one of each of said gussets is secured along its length to either length side of said body front, giving a width slightly greater than the width of said body front, wherein securing said gussets and said body front to said pocket flap along the width, form pleats between said gussets and said body front;

a rigid, shatterproof, protective case, said protective case being a hollow, non-circular cylinder, formed from mirror image halves, having one closed end and dimensioned to fit within said exterior pocket;

a non-abrasive, cushioning liner, said liner being a hollow, non-circular cylinder having one closed end, covering the interior and exterior of said protective case;

comprising the steps of;

affixing said pocket to a user'"'"'s clothing,

placing the closed end of the liner into the protective case until the closed end of the liner is in contact with the closed end of the protective case,

folding the remaining portion of the liner over the outside of the protective case,

affixing said securing means to secure said protective case within said liners,

placing said protective case, liner combination into said pocket,

placing eye glasses in said protective case,

securing said pocket flap to said body front to secure said protective case/liner combination within said pocket.

3. An assembly for protecting small objects by providing heat and breakage resistance, said assembly comprising,

an exterior pocket, said exterior pocket having

a pocket flap, said pocket flap having a length and a width,

a body front, said body front having a length and a width,

a pair of gussets, said pair of gussets having a length and a width and connecting said pocket flap and said body front along three sides,

closure means, said closure means removably affixing said pocket flap to said body front,

a protective case, said protective case having a length and width slightly less than said exterior pocket;

a liner, said liner being dimensioned and positioned to cover the interior and exterior of said protective case and having closure means to secured said protective case within said liner,

said liner and protective case being positioned within said exterior pocket, and said gussets being dimensioned to form a friction fit between said protective case and said exterior pocket to prevent slippages between said exterior pocket and said protective case.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said protective case is a hollow, non-circular cylinder having further comprising a closed end and an open end, the dimension of said protective case length being greater than that of said open end or said closed end.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the open end of said cylinder has a wider dimension than the body of said cylinder and has a sufficient interior dimension to accommodate a pair of eye glasses.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said non-circular cylinder is formed from mirror image halves.

7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein each of said mirror image halves further comprises sealing seams, said sealing seams extending at right angles to said cylinder along all but the open end of said cylinder wherein said sealing seams provide a first to break point.

8. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said protective case is manufactured from a rigid, shatter proof material.

9. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said liner is a hollow, non-cicular cylinder having one closed end.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein said liner has a length and a width, said length being approximately twice the length of said protective case.

11. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising draining means, said drainage means preventing water from accumulating within said pocket.

12. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said protective case further comprises a ridge along its length to provide greater rigidity.