Eyeglass locator system

• US 5,949,516 A
• Filed: 06/15/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clarence Mccurdy
• Original Assignee: Clarence Mccurdy
• Inventors: McCurdy, Clarence
• Primary Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US09/097,332
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 351/158, 351/122
• US Class Current: 351/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/00 Non-optical adjuncts; Attachment thereof G02C7/16 takes precedence

Abstract

An eyeglass locator system for locating misplaced eyeglasses having a frame and a pair of earpieces extending rearwardly from the frame, comprising a transmitter and a receiver portion. The transmitter is preferably keychain attachable, and produces a radio frequency signal when activated by means of a button. The receiver portion is located at the eyeglasses and produces and audible and/or visual alert in response to the radio frequency signal. The receiver portion is preferably either encapsulated within one or both of the earpieces at its distal end, or is located in a sleeve which is mounted over the distal end of one or more of the earpieces of an existing pair of eyeglasses.

Claims

1. An eyeglass locator system, for locating a pair of eyeglasses having a frame and a pair of earpieces extending rearward from the frame, comprising:

a transmitter, for producing a radio frequency signal; and

a receiver portion located at the eyeglasses, for producing an audible and visual alert in response to the radio frequency signal to allow the eyeglasses to be located.

2. The eyeglass locator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver portion is located at the earpieces.

3. The eyeglass locator system as recited in claim 2, wherein the earpieces each have a distal end, and wherein the receiver portion is encapsulated in at least one of the earpieces at the distal end thereof.

4. The eyeglass locator system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transmitter further comprises a keychain attachable transmitter having a transmitter button which enables the radio frequency signal to be produced.

5. The eyeglass locator system as recited in claim 1, wherein the earpieces each have a distal end, and further comprising a sleeve having a bore for extending over the distal end of one of the earpieces, the receiver portion is encapsulated the sleeve.

6. The eyeglass locator system as recited in claim 5, wherein the transmitter further comprises a keychain attachable transmitter having a transmitter button which enables the radio frequency signal to be produced.

7. An eyeglass locator method, for locating a pair of eyeglasses having a receiver portion mounted at said eyeglasses and a transmitter, comprising the steps of:

producing a radio frequency signal from the transmitter;

receiving the radio frequency signal at the receiver portion; and

producing an audible and visual alert from the receiver portion at the eyeglasses.

8. The eyeglass locator method as recited in claim 7, wherein the eyeglasses have a frame and earpieces extending rearward from the frame, and wherein the receiver portion is located at the earpieces.

9. The eyeglass locator method as recited in claim 8, wherein the earpieces each have a distal end, and further using a sleeve having a bore, wherein the receiver portion is encapsulated within the sleeve, and wherein the method steps as recited are preceded by inserting one of the earpieces into the bore.

10. The eyeglass locator method as recited in claim 8, wherein the receiver portion is encapsulated within one of the earpieces.