Magnetic eyeglass device

• US 7,172,283 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kathleen M. Asta
• Original Assignee: Kathleen M. Asta
• Inventors: Asta, Kathleen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang; Hung Xuan
• Application Number:
  US11/402,071
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 351/111, 351/112, 351/121, 351/41, 351/158, 24/33
• US Class Current: 351/112
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2200/02 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 3/04 Arrangements for supporting by hand, e.g. lorgnette, Arrangements for supporting by articles by walking-sticks A45B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1371 Eyeglass holder including retaining means

Abstract

A magnetic device enables user to affix eyeglasses to articles of clothing worn by the user. The device comprises a strong pair of magnets, covered in a non-ferrous shell of various material compositions, each shell being fitted with two pliable, flexible rings for attachment to the eyeglass frames. The rings are made of flexible material so that they can be repeatedly bent or stretched, without fracturing, while the device is being fitted or removed form the eyeglass frames. The shells, when attached to each arm or temple support of the eyeglass frame, magnetically connect together when the eyeglass frames are in the closed position, forming a tight hold whenever the glasses are clasped together. The closed eyeglasses, in combination with the invention of the present invention, can then be easily and securely attached or retained to a belt, pocket, purse, or to an article of clothing.

Claims

1. In combination, an eyeglass assembly and two magnet assemblies, the eyeglass assembly comprising two temple supports and a bow portion, the temple supports being jointedly attached to opposite ends of the bow portion, the temple supports thus being pivotable intermediate a closed temple support position and an open temple support position, the temple supports extending in opposite directions in adjacency to one another when in the closed temple support position, the magnet assemblies each comprising a magnetic member, a magnet-encasing shell, and first and second flexible hinge rings, each magnetic member comprising opposing first and second magnet ends, the magnet-encasing shell enclosing the magnetic member, the first and second hinge rings being hingedly connected to the magnet-encasing shell adjacent the first and second magnet ends, a selected magnet assembly being removably attached to each temple support via the first and second hinge rings such that the magnetic members may be juxtaposed to one another when in the closed temple support position, the magnetic members for magnetically maintaining the temple supports in the closed temple support position via cooperative magnetic force extending therebetween, the magnet assemblies being manually removable from the temples supports for enhancing safe wear of the eyeglass assembly.

2. The combination of claim 1 comprising eyeglass-supporting means, the eyeglass-supporting means extending intermediate the bow portion and the temple supports when in the closed temple support position, the eyeglass-supporting means and the magnet assemblies for supporting the eyeglass assembly and safely stowing the eyeglass assembly when in the closed temple support position.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the hinge rings are formed from pliable, flexible material, the pliable, flexible material for enhancing a user'"'"'s ability to manually and removably attach the magnet assemblies to the temple supports intermediate the length thereof.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the magnet assemblies are repositionable upon the eyeglass temple supports intermediate the length thereof.

5. A combination eyeglass magnet assembly, the eyeglass magnet assembly comprising at least two cooperable magnet assemblies, each magnet assembly comprising a magnetic member, a magnet-encasing shell, and first and second hinge rings, each magnetic member comprising opposing first and second magnet ends, the magnet-encasing shell enclosing the magnetic member, the first and second hinge rings being hingedly connected to the magnet-encasing shell adjacent the first and second magnet ends, the hinge rings for selectively and removably attaching the eyeglass magnet assembly to eyeglass temple supports intermediate the length thereof, the magnetic members being magnetically attracted to one another for directing the temple supports into a closed temple support position.

6. The eyeglass magnet assembly of claim 5 wherein the hinge rings are formed from flexible material, the flexible material for enhancing a user'"'"'s ability to removably attach the magnet assemblies to the eyeglass temple supports intermediate the length thereof.

7. The eyeglass magnet assembly of claim 6 wherein the magnet assemblies are repositionable upon the eyeglass temple supports intermediate the length thereof.

8. An eyeglass holding device, the eyeglass holding device comprising a magnetic member, a non-ferrous, magnet-encasing shell, and first and second ring structures, the magnetic member being encased in the non-ferrous shell, the ring structures being pivotably attached to the non-ferrous shell to facilitate removable attachment to an eyeglass assembly temple support, the eyeglass assembly temple support being axially receivable through the ring structures for effecting a magnetically claspable temple support.

9. The eyeglass holding device of claim 8 provided in pairs for removable attachment to cooperatively paired eyeglass assembly temple supports, the magnetically claspable temple supports for magnetically maintaining the temple supports in a closed temple support position via cooperative magnetic force extending between the paired eyeglass holding devices.

10. The eyeglass holding device of claim 8 being selectively repositionable upon the temple supports intermediate the length thereof via the ring structures.

11. The eyeglass holding device of claim 10 wherein the ring structures are formed from flexible material, the flexible material for enhancing a user'"'"'s ability to removably attach and reposition the magnet assemblies relative to the eyeglass temple supports intermediate the length thereof.